With the NBA draft and the World Cup both disappearing in our rearview mirror, and the Tour de France not remotely interesting enough for us, we here at The Big Lead can’t just feast on baseball, athletes partying, and athletes getting arrested for the remainder of the summer. So what’s an independent sports blog to do? Preview the NFL.

For the next eight weeks, we’ll be taking a peek inside the 32 NFL teams, counting them down from worst to first, ending August 31 with our projected Super Bowl champion. Each week, previews will run Monday through Thursday, and we’ll take Fridays off for good behavior. Will the draft pay immediate dividends? Was free agency kind to your team? If Jeff Garcia is bald, and TO called him gay, why is he dating a Playboy Platmate? These are the burning questions we will attempt to answer.

Let us know if we missed your blog, or if you just hate the fact that we think your team blows. Email us at thebiglead@hotmail.com or try us on AOL IM: TheBigLead. Shall we?

Draft netted: Safety Mike Huff is in the mold of Ed Reed. And we like Darnell Bing, another safety (USC). We’re not too sure about the rest of the guys, especially second-round pick Thomas Howard (UTEP).

Free Agency was …: Unimpressive. Few fans, if any, will miss QB Kerry Collins. Ditto for Ted Washington. But the masses aren’t exactly rejoicing over the Duane Starks acquisition, either. The jury remains out of former Saints QB Aaron Brooks.

Schedule looks …: Promising. If we told you a 4-0 start were possible, would you believe us? San Diego, Baltimore, Cleveland and San Fran. Could Al Davis ask for anything more? If you’re the optimistic type, the second half includes games against world-beaters Houston, St. Louis, and the NY Jets.

A reason to care about this team: Randy Moss, of course. Although he’s 29, he’s still the most feared receiver in the league (when healthy). We’re hopelessly infatuated with Randy’s skill set, and he may be the most freakishly talented athlete we’ve come across in the last 20 years.

Projected record: While .500 is possible, the defense remains atrocious, and that’s not a good thing in a division with offensive powers like Denver, KC, and (potentially) San Diego. Think 5-11.

Blog: Raider Take
Blog: The Raider Zone
Video: There are roughly 347 Randy Moss videos on YouTube, but sadly, not many videos from last season with the Raiders. So we just picked a Moss compilation with a good song, and a few highlights that grabbed us. Raiders fans will be praying for this Moss to show up in 2006.

32. San Francisco 49ers – Think Brady Quinn. Actually, pray for him.
31. New York Jets – Somewhere in Kansas City, Herman Edwards chuckles.
30. Tennessee Titans – What is a Billy Volek
29. Houston Texans – If not for that darn schedule …
28. Buffalo Bills – GM Marv Levy was born before bubble gum was invented. No joke.
27. Baltimore Ravens – You had a good run, Brian Billick.
26. Minnesota Vikings – Instead of foam fingers this year, will fans wave double-sided dildos in honor of Smoot?
25. Detroit Lions – Jon Kitna will have you longing for Scott Mithcell.
24. New Orleans Saints – Name a starter on defense. Dare you.
23. Oakland Raiders – Al Davis: “Just find me a defense, baby!”