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Sporting News correspondents

A quick look at how the NFC teams stack up at the quarterback position:

1. Rams. Marc Bulger has established himself as one of the league's elite and is extremely accurate. Gus Frerotte is a capable short-term replacement.


2. Eagles. Donovan McNabb is the NFC's most talented quarterback but not its most durable one. A.J. Feeley is a solid backup in Andy Reid's system.

3. Saints. Drew Brees brings confidence, leadership and accountability to the locker room and huddle. Backup Jamie Martin has earned the trust of Sean Payton.

4. Cowboys. Tony Romo has great promise but must be more consistent. Brad Johnson is a fine backup because he won't lose a game by himself.

5. Seahawks. The top priority is keeping Matt Hasselbeck healthy after an injury-plagued '06. Seneca Wallace filled in capably last season but has some limitations.

6. Cardinals. Matt Leinart showed last year he has the skills, smarts and charisma to be a star. Kurt Warner is the perfect backup and mentor.

7. Packers. Brett Favre provides outstanding leadership but can't carry a team like he used to. Aaron Rodgers will be under pressure this preseason to prove he can play in the NFL.

8. Panthers. Jake Delhomme is coming off a rocky season, but there's no reason he can't regain his form. David Carr provides insurance and could benefit from a fresh start.

9. Lions. Jon Kitna is a gritty leader but must play better in the fourth quarter. Backups Dan Orlovsky and J.T. O'Sullivan are inexperienced.

10. Giants. Eli Manning has the arm, smarts and work ethic, but his throwing mechanics and footwork sometimes betray him. Anthony Wright is expected to win the backup job.

11. 49ers. Alex Smith is far from polished but has good arm strength, and his decision making has improved. Trent Dilfer is a seasoned backup and a good mentor.

12. Buccaneers. If Jeff Garcia were a little younger and Chris Simms a little more seasoned, this would be an area of strength. Instead, the group is just average.

13. Bears. Rex Grossman is entering a make-or-break season and must perform better under pressure. If he falters, Brian Griese is a dependable backup.

14. Redskins. Jason Campbell is big and mobile, has a strong arm and provides quiet leadership. Mark Brunell should perform well if needed in a pinch.

15. Falcons. Without Michael Vick, the team turns to the much-maligned Joey Harrington, who will need help from his supporting cast. D.J. Shockley and Chris Redman, who hasn't played since 2003, are the backups.

16 Vikings. Together, Tarvaris Jackson and Brooks Bollinger have 11 career starts. Neither should be forced to carry too much of the load.

TOP 5 INDIVIDUALS

1. Drew Brees, Saints. In his first year in New Orleans, he settled in as a special leader and a master of Sean Payton's offense. He is lights-out accurate.

2. Donovan McNabb, Eagles. The guy is an unquestioned force, but he has missed six or more games in three of the past five years.

3. Marc Bulger, Rams. His body held up last season, and his touch and decision making were better than ever. He needs to be more proficient in the red zone.

4. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks. He slumped last season when he had injury problems and tried to do too much. He is too good to fizzle again.

5. Tony Romo, Cowboys. This guy is no one-hit wonder. Romo has the athletic ability and touch to stay on the ascent, but he must do a better job of protecting the ball.


NFC correspondents: Arizona, Kent Somers; Atlanta, D. Orlando Ledbetter; Carolina, Pat Yasinskas; Chicago, Brad Biggs; Dallas, Jean-Jacques Taylor; Detroit, Tom Kowalski; Green Bay, Tom Silverstein; Minnesota, Kevin Seifert; New Orleans, Mike Triplett; New York, Paul Schwartz; Philadelphia, Mark Eckel; St. Louis, Jim Thomas; San Francisco, Dennis Georgatos; Seattle, Clare Farnsworth; Tampa Bay, Roy Cummings; Washington, Paul Woody.

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