| | ESPN.com
With training camp now underway for every NFL team, ESPN.com continues its series of burning questions with the experts at Bristol University.
Who's a player to watch in the exhibition games?
Chris Mortensen |
Donovan McNabb
To me, the Eagles have a chance to be a surprise team this season. He's had a devoted offseason. If he's going to be as good as people think he'll be, he will show glimpses of that in preseason. Others to watch are Shaun King, Brian Griese, Jon Kitna and Jake Plummer. You have to look at the quarterbacks first. | |
John Clayton |
Matt Hasselbeck
Very few people know him, but the Packers backup quarterback was the highest-rated passer during last season's preseason. He is one to watch because if teams start to think their QB situation is looking grim and need to make a move, he may be a player that a team may target. Hasselback is a good backup with a lot of talent and a strong arm. | |
Mark Malone |
Vinny Testaverde
He had such a great year in 1998, then got hurt in the first game of 1999. Does he pick up where he left off? Can he be the same quarterback without Keyshawn Johnson? He will be an interesting player to watch. Others will be the young players like Courtney Brown, LaVar Arrington and Peter Warrick. What kind of impact will the rookies make? In this era of free agency, rookies -- especially high draft choices -- must play immediately. They can't just develop over a two- or three-year period. How Warrick gels with Akili Smith in the preseason will be critical to the Bengals' success. | |
Andrea Kremer |
Daunte Culpepper
He's a player to watch because he is completely untested in game situations. Culpepper attended Cris Carter's little mini-camp in Boca Raton, Fla. They can run patterns all day long, but until he can play in game conditions against defenses designed to confuse him, he will remain on the hot seat. | |
Mike Golic |
Peter Warrick
A lot will be expected of Warrick in Cincinnati. I pick him because he has the added dimension of kick returning. He will be called on to be the Bengals' playmaker, taking short passes and turning them into long gains. He will also need to give the Bengals good field position on punt returns. | |
Merril Hoge |
Kordell Stewart
There's going to be a lot of heat on him to perform well. If he doesn't, there will be pressure on the Steelers to not start him at quarterback. | |
Sean Salisbury |
Daunte Culpepper and Ryan Leaf
We will get an idea in the preseason about what Culpepper can do and how he's handling the Vikings' quarterback situation. Culpepper, who had been so removed from the starting position, has a long way to go to be an effective quarterback. As for Leaf, this will be a telling year for him. He will either contribute or go somewhere else. | |
| |
ALSO SEE
Which contender has the most work to do?
Which new coach has the most pressure?
Which injured star will bounce back?
|
