The following quotes are from NFL scouts, coaches and front-office personnel, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

• "I've never known Brett Favre to want to hand the ball off. If Favre comes back, does that mean (the Vikings) are going to keep the ball out of Adrian Peterson's hands? Don't forget, this is a quarterback — watch the tape — everyone is clearly (executing) a (designed) run play and (Favre) pulls out and throws the ball to a receiver. It's eye contact. He gives some kind of signal. He just makes eye contact and throws the ball on running plays. I've never known Brett Favre to be happy handing the ball off. But, hey, John Elway never won a Super Bowl until he learned to hand it off."

• "(Dolphins GM) Jeff Ireland has turned so many people off in this business the way he walks around and puffs his chest out. He acts like he is (Bill) Parcells. The difference is, that's who Bill is and what he is and why he has been so good. He has a right to act like he does. No one has any problem with him speaking his mind. But every time Ireland opens his mouth, he says something stupid. When he was asked about Michael Vick (potentially) playing for the Dolphins, I could not believe he drew a line in the sand between him and Bill. He said (signing) Vick would be Bill's decision, not his, if they were to sign him. You don't call the Tuna out. Unless Bill wanted him to present it like that — and he could have had motives for it — I'd wager to bet Bill sat him down after that and had some short, very direct, terse language for him."

• "If they can stay healthy on defense with (Packers defensive coordinator) Dom Capers, Green Bay is going to be good. They are a young team. Aaron Rodgers is a good quarterback. I think the NFC North is going to be a lot better than people think."

• "The problem with (Jets OLB) Vernon Gholston is that he never made plays (at Ohio State). He was not tough. He was not competitive. He was stiff — the same as (Bills DE) Aaron Maybin. They are both one-trick ponies who won off the edge against bad competition. They could get away with it in college because the skill level is not very good. At this (NFL) level, one-trick ponies without any heart need to have a special trait to survive — special get-off (speed) or special competitiveness."

• "Recruiting in football is getting to be like it is in AAU basketball. We're in a recession, man. Families need money. They are not going anywhere for free. They are taking advantage of the process."

• "Washington has a chance to get off to a fast start when you look at (its) schedule, just like they did last year. But that is probably the worst-case scenario for them — to get everyone excited and then fade in the second half. Boy, they screwed (Jason Campbell) up. He did not throw an interception in the first half of the season. And it's not like he had much of an offensive line. Their offensive line should be better with (Derrick) Dockery back. He'll help them inside. ... They better win. If not, here comes Mike Shanahan. Remember, Vinny Cerrato has some ties to him from San Francisco."

• "I don't know what they were thinking in Minnesota, that after taking one visit to the kid's (Percy Harvin's) house in Florida that they thought they could control him. He tested positive at the Combine. Didn't that say enough? Those guys are my friends, but I wouldn't want to go to Vegas with them — talk about not playing the odds. He has not even reported to training camp (yet) and he is already causing problems."

• "The Bears open up with a tough schedule. They got to visit Lambeau Field on a Sunday night; then they are hosting the Steelers and have to go cross-country to play the Seahawks. That's a tough draw."

Kickoff is coming! Be sure to buy copies of the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports 2009 NFL preview magazine, as well as the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football Guide 2009, both of which are now available at bookstores, newsstands and retail outlets where magazines are sold. Or order your copies online at PFWStore.com.