One position the Buffalo Bills will not need to worry about is running back. The Bills’ vaunted ground game has been on display through the first two games of the preseason against Washington and Indianapolis. Buffalo already had two former 1,000+ yard rushers in Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch coming into the 2010-2011 season, but the addition of their first round draft pick C.J. Spiller and undrafted talent Joique Bell have turned the Bills backfield into a gold mine. The Bills didn’t miss a step in their second preseason game of the year Thursday night with both Jackson and Lynch out injured. Spiller, an All-American at Clemson last season, displayed his game-changing speed with a emphatic 31-yard touchdown in the first quarter of the Bills’ game with the Indianapolis Colts. His fellow rookie runner Bell picked up right where Spiller left off -racking up 80 yards on 11 carries and scoring one touchdown. Bell was named the Division II player of the year last season at Wayne State. The Detroit native could be a diamond in the rough should the Bills decide to hold on him at the end of training camp. If the Bills decide to only keep three running backs on the roster I’m sure their will be host of teams interested in Bell’s services.

The NFC North will be one of the most exciting divisional races in the NFL this year without question. One familiar uncertainty hangs over the division that could be the deciding factor in who title. Will Brett Favre play for the Minnesota Vikings this year? If Favre decides to retire this season it could have a huge affect on the Vikings’ postseason hopes. Minnesota’s staunch defense and high-powered running game could still propel the Vikes to the top of the NFC North without Favre, but head coach Brad Childress definitely has his fingers crossed that #4 is in purple this season. The Green Bay Packers would be the next logical contender after going down guns blazing in a NFC Wild Card postseason classic with the Arizona Cardinals. Aaron Rodgers has solidified himself as one of the most best quarterback in the league in his two years in the job. Look for the Pack to be back in the playoffs in 2010. The Chicago Bears were dissapointed with their 7-9 season a year ago, but a number of changes has things looking up in the Windy City. New offensive coordinator Mike Martz could give the Bears’ offense a new look this season, while off season signing Julius Peppers could make a huge difference on the other side of the ball. Coach Lovie Smith and general manger Jerry Angelo have their backs up against the wall this season, because if the Bears fail to make the playoffs this season both are likely to be out of a job. Lastly we have the Detroit Lions who actually considered their 3-win season a year ago an improvement. Quarterback Matthew Stafford showed flashes of becoming a good NFL quarterback last season, but the young signal caller will need to step his game up a few levels if the Lions want any shot of being a .500 team. The focus in Motown will be fixated on the Lions first round draft pick, Ndamakong Suh. The Heisman Trophy canidate is one of the most exciting defensive draft picks in recent history. The Lions certainly are in need of an improved defense from last year.

Predicted Finish (If Favre Retires)

1. Packers

2. Vikings

3. Bears

4. Lions

Predicted Finish (If Favre Plays)

1. Vikings

2. Packers

3. Bears

4. Lions

Mike Martz, newly appointed offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears, has been going on about Bears’ quarterback Jay Cutler. In Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback this week, Martz said that Cutler “has no flaws” as a quarterback. The former St. Louis Rams OC/Head Coach has talked up his teams before and been unable to back them up, but things could be different in Chicago. The Bears did make a splash in the free agency, but they have failed to address their problems on the offensive line. The signing of block tight end Brandon Manumaleuna could be a small help, but that alone won’t fix an o-line that couldn’t properly protect their star quarterback. Martz is known for the quick passing game, which could be exactly what Cutler needs in the Bears’ offense. Some have pointed to the battering quarterbacks have taken under Martz in the past including Trent Green and Jon Kitna. The Bears open the season at home against the Detroit Lions, perennial NFC North punching bag and former Martz team. Things will be interesting this fall in the Windy City.

Quarterback Donovan McNabb could have played his last game in a Philadelphia Eagles uniform. Over the past few season their have been a lot of rumors about the Eagles trading McNabb, but none have ever materialized, perhaps, until now. Head coach Andy Reid told the press this week that the team was “entertaining” offers for all three of their quarterbacks. Backup Kevin Kolb showed promise last season filling in for McNabb in three games in the starting role, prompting some fans to declare their five-time Pro Bowler QB expendable. Controversial star Michael Vick was used in 12 games last season only in certain situations. Vick publicly said that this season he’d like to be a starter somewhere in the NFL, but no there has been little reported interest thus far in the off season. One team of interest considering a move for McNabb is the St. Louis Rams. The Rams were one of the worst teams in the NFL last season, and could use a proven QB to reboot their franchise. I’m sure a few more teams will come forward in the comings weeks in pursuit of the Eagles #5.

Quarterback Ben Rothlisberger spoke to the media on Wednesday that he did not assault the 20-year-old woman accusing him of sending her to the hospital. The two-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steeler  claims that their was sexual contact between himself and the accuser, but he did no physical harm to her. Rothlisberger attests that the woman in question slipped and injured her head on her own accord. The alleged victim went to a local hospital following the incident which took place at a night club in Milledgeville, GA last Friday. It is reported that Rothlisberger was celebrating his birthday with a group of up to eight persons. The incident occurred in the nightclub’s bathroom. It is not known yet if the Milledgeville Police will press charges. An additional civil suit is pending accusing Rothlisberger of raping a woman in 2008 in Lake Tahoe which the NFL star has also claimed not to be true.