Things I Think I Think

SI's fearless NFL expert opines on all the latest news, buzz and inside information surrounding players and teams from around the league. This is just a taste.

1 I think I believe—and will continue to believe until I see him actually stink it up in training camp, which won't happen—that 29-year-old Byron Leftwich (below) will beat out Luke McCown for Tampa Bay's starting quarterback job. Leftwich is just better.

2 I think news of Eric Mangini's sending his rookie class on a 10-hour bus ride to Hartford to work at his weekend football camp for underprivileged kids wouldn't bother me so much if he and his coaches hadn't flown there. That's just wrong. Though I hear he did take the bus back with the players late Saturday, it's clear that the Browns rookies felt they had to do this.

3 I think you should plan to take Drew Brees before any QB in your fantasy league. In the 89-year history of the NFL only Dan Marino, who threw for 13,967 yards between 1984 and '86, has thrown for more yards in a three-year period than Brees's 13,910 the last three seasons. In fact, no one has come within 850 yards of what Brees has done over a three-year span.

PHOTO

CLIFF WELCH/ICON SMI (LEFTWICH)