Buffalo Bills

Link: http://www.buffalobills.com/team/camp.jsp
Location: St. John Fisher College (Rochester, NY)
Dates: July 28 - August 24
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge, except night practices)

• New coaches, new systems - The Bills usher in a new regime with HC Dick Jauron, DC Perry Fewell and OC Steve Fairchild. On defense, the Bills will join the growing ranks of teams implementing the Cover-2. On offense, Fairchild is bringing the spread passing attack with him from St. Louis, but promises more balance between the run and pass.



• Who is the Bills' starting quarterback? - Last year, the team committed to J.P. Losman only to hand the reins over to Kelly Holcomb at mid-season. With neither particularly effective, the team quietly acquired Packers' backup Craig Nall. The new coaching staff promises a truly open competition; which QB will emerge from the pack and are any of them capable of consistently strong play?



• The battle at WR2 - Peerless Price returns to Buffalo hoping to recapture the magic, but years on ineptitude suggest otherwise. Andre Davis was claimed off the scrap heap but has never been productive. Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish are better suited as slot receivers. Yet, one of them has to start opposite Lee Evans; and training camp will be a chance to determine the less of many evils.



• Ironing out the left guard position - The Bills waived Bennie Anderson which leaves free agent Tutan Reyes as the starter entering camp. But Duke Preston will be given the chance to unseat Reyes.



• (IDP) The battle at strong safety - Buffalo didn't draft Donte Whitner 8th overall in the April draft to sit him on the bench for long, but he is a rookie being asked to quarterback the Bills secondary. Whitner will have to beat out Matt Bowen and Coy Wire in camp to secure the job on opening kickoff.

Miami Dolphins

Link: http://www.miamidolphins.com/pressbox/pressreleases/pressreleases.asp?contentID=4536&lid=4536
Location: Dolphins Training Center (Davie, FL)
Dates: July 29 - August 21
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

• How long will Joey Harrington keep the seat warm for Daunte Culpepper? - The Dolphins acquired Florida native Daunte Culpepper in a trade with Minnesota and view him as the future of the franchise. But Culpepper is rehabbing from surgery to repair multiple knee ligament tears. There's no guarantee he'll be ready for the start of the regular season, which is why the team traded for former Lions starter Joey Harrington. How long will Harrington have to man the huddle and how effective can he be under Nick Saban and Mike Mularkey's watchful eye?



• Is Ronnie Brown ready for a lead role? - The Dolphins lost Ricky Williams to a drug suspension leaving Ronnie Brown the main workhorse. Brown, the 2nd overall pick a year ago, has never been a workhorse (he split carries in college with Cadillac Williams) but has the size, strength and speed to do so.



• Reshaping the offensive line - The offensive line is undergoing a massive overhaul and establishing some cohesiveness in camp will be of paramount importance. L.J. Shelton will start on the left side while Vernon Carey is the likely starter at right tackle. Rex Hadnot will replace Seth McKinney at center, while Jeno James reprises his role at left guard. Right guard promises to be the most competitive as free agent Bennie Anderson will get the chance to beat out McKinney.



• (IDP) Establishing the new secondary pecking order - The Dolphins completely overhauled the secondary this offseason. At free safety, rookie Jason Allen has the edge on Yeremiah Bell and Deke Cooper. At strong safety, Renaldo Hill would have to be underwhelming to lose the job to Travares Tillman. Travis Daniels and Will Poole will battle for the starting corner spot opposite free agent acquisition Will Allen.



• (IDP) Donnie Spragan vs. Sedrick Hodge vs. Keith Newman - Spragan has the edge at SLB entering camp, but Hodge and Newman have the chance to unseat him with a strong showing.

New England Patriots

Link: http://www.patriots.com/trainingcamp/
Location: Gillette Stadium (Foxboro, MA)
Dates: July 28 - August 16
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

• Can Corey Dillon recapture his form? - The Patriots are greater than the sum of their parts and, as a result, no player is viewed as irreplaceable. Corey Dillon was a shadow of his former self in 2005 averaging a career-low 3.5 yards while missing a quarter of the season. At 31 years old, can Dillon regain his Pro Bowl form? If not, rookie Laurence Maroney could step in quickly.



• Deion Branch's contract status - Deion Branch wants a new contract but the Patriots have given no indication they intend to renegotiate his deal. Will Branch threaten to hold out of camp, and will the Patriots play hardball with their only proven receiver?



• Who lines up opposite Deion Branch this year? - The Patriots must find a starter to replace David Givens. Rookie Chad Jackson is the obvious choice, but Reche Caldwell and Troy Brown are in the hunt, too.



• Is Ben Watson going to emerge this year? - The Patriots can never have enough tight ends it seems, and they added several more in the April draft. But the real question is whether Ben Watson, one of the most athletic tight ends to come into the league in years, is ready to establish himself among the Patriots top offensive weapons.



• Dan Koppen's shoulder - Starting center Dan Koppen is recovering from a rotator cuff injury and will be limited for much of camp. If his recovery hits a setback, will Russ Hochstein rise to the occasion?



• (IDP) Replacing Willie McGinest - The Patriots epitomize the notion that no player is irreplaceable; yet that mantra will be tested as Tully Banta-Cain must step into the starting lineup for longtime leader Willie McGinest.



• Martin Gramatica vs. Stephen Gostkowski - No one can replace Adam Vinatieri, but the winner of this battle should offer compelling fantasy value.

New York Jets

Link: http://www.newyorkjets.com/training_camp/schedule
Location: Hofstra University (Hempstead, NY)
Dates: July 28 - August 17
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

• New coaches, new systems - The Jets hope they've found the next Bill Belichick by hiring his youngest protégé, Eric Mangini. Mangini is a defensive mind by nature, but little is known about his style or that of his coordinators. On defense, he and DC Bob Sutton will run a base 3-4 defense that uses a lot of pre-snap adjustments. On offense, one can assume OC Brian Schottenheimer will take much of the balance, pro-set offense that San Diego uses with him to New York.



• Chad Pennington vs. The Field - Chad Pennington is on track to return as the Jets starter, but the job is far from solidified. Whether or not he wins the job, rookie Kellen Clemens and veterans Brooks Bollinger and Patrick Ramsey are also in a spirited battle for the backup spot, too.



• Does Curtis Martin get to go out on his own terms? - A year after becoming the oldest man ever to lead the league in rushing, Curtis Martin fell from grace due to a lingering knee injury. The good news is Martin had no ligament damage, doctors removed bone chips in December and his prognosis is good. The bad news is, at his age, and with a new Jets regime, Martin will be transitioned to a part-time role in 2006.



• Are the rookie O-linemen ready to make an immediate impact? - D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold are likely to start at left tackle and center, respectively. As long as both get signed with a major holdout, they represent the present and future of the Jets offensive line. In Ferguson's case, it would be shocking if he didn't win the LT job outright. In Mangold's case, it was thought he would battle veteran Trey Teague and perhaps apprentice for a season. But Teague broke his ankle and the timetable for his return is unclear.



• (IDP) Do the Jets have the personnel for a 3-4 front? - The Jets current roster wasn't assembled with a 3-4 defensive front in mind. Can Bryan Thomas morph from disappointing end to versatile linebacker? Is Jonathan Vilma suited to play the 3-4? Can Dewayne Robertson play nose tackle?



• (IDP) David Barrett vs. Andre Dyson - The veterans will battle for a starting cornerback spot, with the loser being the nickel back in all likelihood.