He is more important to his team than any player in the league. The Colts are one of the two best teams in the AFC, and that's because they have a great quarterback who has never missed a start in his 10-year career. But Manning's consistency was threatened July 14 when he had surgery to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee.
The Colts have played it cool and don't expect him to be anything but ready for their season opener against the Bears. But if he is not ready, untested Jim Sorgi gets the call. He has been able to sit at Manning's knee for the last four seasons and is getting all the first-team reps in training camp, but he can't come close to carrying Manning's shoulder pads.
Luckily for the Colts, Joseph Addai is in the best shape of his career and will be able to carry the load for the short term. However, if Manning has a setback and misses more than two games, the Colts could be in trouble.";
spt_NFL_top10_questions[i++] = new Array("","2. N.E. bummer?","Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is sacked during Super Bowl XLII.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/080203/080203-tom-brady-sacked-hmed-6p.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Paul Sancya", "AP", "273", "380", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_top10_questions[i-1].body = "What will the hangover be like for the Patriots?
Coach Bill Belichick is not one to tolerate self-aggrandizement or self-pity and is likely to play this year's training camp like he has in the past. The 2007 season is gone and it's onward to this year's championship. That may not be enough.
The running game has questions, as Laurence Maroney is decent but not great. The defense is old and vulnerable in the secondary. Randy Moss was a good solider last year but it might be difficult for him to buckle down two years in a row. Finally, the Patriots spent every drop of fortitude they had in order to go undefeated last year. Their tank can't possibly be full this year.";
spt_NFL_top10_questions[i++] = new Array("","3. Northern exposure","Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071104/071104_AdrianPeterson_vmed_8p.hsmall.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Jim Mone", "AP", "273", "218", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_top10_questions[i-1].body = "Will the Vikings' QB question prevent an NFC North title?
It's all there for the Vikings. While Tarvaris Jackson is an unproven commodity, Minnesota might have the best defensive line, the best offensive line and running game in the NFL. Getting back to Jackson. It's not like he's terrible; he's just inconsistent. If he shows an improvement of 10 to 20 percent and the rest of the team lives up to expectations, the NFC North will belong to the Vikings.
The Packers, Bears and Lions simply have too many issues to give the Vikings a fight. There is one potential disaster: the leadership of Brad Childress. He was much better last year than he was in 2006, but how will the high-strung coach react when expectations are much higher? This has to concern Vikings fans. ";
spt_NFL_top10_questions[i++] = new Array("","4. Silver and Black attack","JaMarcus Russell, left, talks with fullback Justin Griffith.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/getty/gyi0055375213.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Sara Wolfram", "Getty Images", "261", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_top10_questions[i-1].body = "Can the Raiders' offense take off?
This should be the year the Raiders start fighting for their playoff lives again. Darren McFadden and Justin Fargas should provide a devastating running game and JaMarcus Russell will get the chance to show off his first-rate arm.
There are questions about Lane Kiffin’s coaching and the defense is iffy at best. However, the schedule is quite workable and the Raiders should have an edge on the Chiefs and Broncos. This is the year the Raiders get it back together. ";
spt_NFL_top10_questions[i++] = new Array("","5. Dallas dynamite?","Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens runs away from cornerback Adam Jones.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo/_new/g-080727-spt-cowboys-8p.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Tony Gutierrez", "AP", "273", "363", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_top10_questions[i-1].body = "How will Wade Phillips keep Adam Jones and Terrell Owens happy?
The Cowboys coach did more than survive a testing first season in Dallas. He could have been quite vulnerable to Owens' selfish demands a year ago, but the coach managed to keep the receiver focused and the Cowboys enjoyed a dominant regular season.
However, losing to the Giants at home in the postseason put Phillips on notice, and Owens might give Phillips problems this year. No matter how Owens behaves, Jones is a ticking time bomb. Perhaps he can last one season without getting into trouble, but the track record says no.
Here's the problem for Phillips: If he comes down too hard on either man, it could blow up in his face. If he is too soft on Owens or Jones, the rest of the team could revolt. Phillips appears to be in for a very difficult second season. ";
spt_NFL_top10_questions[i++] = new Array("","6. Big-spending Bears","Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/apmegasports/200807212245819009618-pf.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Nam Y. Huh", "AP", "290", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_top10_questions[i-1].body = "Will the Bears regret giving big contracts to Brian Urlacher and Devin Hester
The Bears have been one of the most penurious organizations in the history of sports, but they have done quite a bit to change that under general manager Jerry Angelo.
Paying Urlacher and making him happy should also give the defense a lift. Urlacher is loved by his teammates, and if he is happy then they will play better. Hester is probably the best return man in the history of the game, but he had only 20 catches a year ago.
The Bears are fooling themselves if they think Hester is ready to be a No. 1 receiver. He may be fast on the field, but he is slow to learn plays.";
spt_NFL_top10_questions[i++] = new Array("","7. Titanic hype?","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071023/071023_young_vmed_730a.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Jamie Squire", "Getty Images", "295", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_top10_questions[i-1].body = "Will Vince Young live up to expectations?
Young understands what it takes to win a game when it's on the line in the fourth quarter. He proved that as a college star at Texas and as a rookie with the Titans in 2006.
He took a step back last year — even though the Titans made the playoffs — and now the heat is on for Young to become a big-time quarterback. The problem for Young is that he is not an accurate passer. Unless he improves, Young is likely to fall short of expectations. ";
spt_NFL_top10_questions[i++] = new Array("","8. Cleveland rocks","Cleveland receiver Braylon Edwards.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/April/080415_BraylonEdwards_v.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Gregory Shamus", "Getty Images", "273", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_top10_questions[i-1].body = "Are the Cleveland Browns the AFC Central's best team?
The first tendency is to dismiss the Cleveland Browns because they are, well, the Cleveland Browns. Now look at the roster. Start with the skill positions where Derek Anderson, Jamal Lewis, Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow give them three stars and one very good quarterback. The progress made in 2007 should allow the Browns to continue their growth pattern in 2008.
Losses on defense will not help matters — particularly the departure of CB Leigh Bodden in the trade for former Lions DT Shaun Rogers and the offseason knee injury suffered by Daven Holly. ";
spt_NFL_top10_questions[i++] = new Array("","9. Eli's arrived","Giants quarterback Eli Manning.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070830/070830_manning_vmed_9p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Jim Rogash", "Getty Images", "255", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_top10_questions[i-1].body = "Is Eli Manning really an elite QB or did he just get lucky?
Manning will never say it, but the departure of Jeremy Shockey is the best news he received in the offseason. Shockey used to blister Manning in practice and it was clear the tight end didn't have much respect for the quarterback.
Manning may not have his brother's devotion and level of preparation, but he throws one of the most catchable balls in the game. Leading the Giants on the winning drive in the Super Bowl after guiding them to road playoff wins at Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay have given him all the confidence he needs to become a superb quarterback. Consider the corner turned. ";
spt_NFL_top10_questions[i++] = new Array("","10. Sainted too soon?","New Orleans running back Reggie Bush.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/071021/071021_ReggieBush_vmed.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Alex Brandon", "AP", "251", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_top10_questions[i-1].body = "Will Reggie Bush ever be a productive, consistent star?
It doesn't seem Bush wants to prove himself with the Saints as much as he did in college. He has been a major disappointment since the Saints made him the No. 2 pick in 2006, as he has just been a role player and not a dominant star.
He has a better chance of improving if Deuce McAllister can come all the way back from his devastating knee injury (torn ACL and microfracture surgery). If not, he'll have to comfort himself in the arms of the lovely Kim Kardashian. ";
// END editorial data