NFL NFC Preseason Player Battles

Arizona Cardinals - The Cards are hoping QB Matt Leinart seizes the starting role but are glad to have Kurt Warner just in case. RG Deuce Lutui has to step up his play if he wants to hold off Elton Brown. Rookie CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will battle Eric Green for the job and could win at some point. FS Antrel Rolle is making the move from CB and must hold off S's Oliver Celestin and Aaron Francisco.

Atlanta Falcons - Another woeful team with competitions galore. 1st-round pick Matt Ryan will battle nondescript QB's Chris Redman and Joey Harrington. WR Laurent Robinson is ahead of veteran wideouts Joe Horn and Michael Jenkins. The O-line and D-line will feature several competitions as will the secondary. The LBing unit seems set with rookie MLB Curtis Lofton's presence allowing Keith Brooking to slide to his natural weakside spot.

Carolina Panthers - Rookie RB Jonathan Stewart should get the bulk of the carries over DeAngelo Williams but it is a contest. FA WRs D.J. Hackett and Muhsin Muhammad will compete to start with Steve Smith but if healthy, Hackett should win. FA G's Milford Brown, Toniu Fonoti and Keydrick Vincent will battle for the RG spot. FA RE Tyler Brayton is the early favorite over DEs Stanley McClover and Charles Johnson. Rookie FS Charles Godfrey is the favorite over FA Terrence Holt and the LB unit will have competition but Jon Beason and Thomas Davis are locks to start.

Chicago Bears - How the mighty have fallen. Rex Grossman gets yet another chance vs. Kyle Orton. Rookie Matt Forte is the de facto starter at RB after the expected release of Cedric Benson. Marty Booker, Mark Bradley, Brandon Lloyd and rookie Earl Bennett will vie for the two WR jobs with Booker an early favorite. OT John St. Clair could beat out Terrence Metcalf for the LG spot. Four players will battle for the two safety spots.

Dallas Cowboys - Terry Glenn (if he's still around), Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin will compete for the spot opposite Terrell Owens. The disappointing Marcus Spears will battle Jason Hatcher for the LE spot. CB Anthony Henry will try to fend off CBs Pacman Jones and rookie Mike Jenkins.

Detroit Lions - RB Tatum Bell (an afterthought in '07) will battle rookie Kevin Smith. The LB unit is up in the air except for WLB Ernie Sims. Four players are in the mix for the other two spots. For a bad team, there are few wide-open competitions.

Green Bay Packers - Aaron Rodgers takes over for a certain departed QB but has competition from rookie Brian Brohm, who is well-schooled in the West Coast offense. OL Junius Coston will try to unseat RG Jason Spitz, while Allen Barbre will make a spirited challenge for LG Daryn Colledge's job. FA Brandon Chillar is expected to beat out incumbent SLB Brady Poppinga.

Minnesota Vikings - RE Ray Edwards is moving to the left side with the arrival of DE Jared Allen but he has a back injury. Brian Robison and Jayme Mitchell will compete if Edwards misses significant time. This team greatly improved itself in the offseason and has few battles looming.

New Orleans Saints - The departure of C Jeff Faine leaves C-G Jonathan Goodwin the favorite over C-G Matt Lehr. Rookie 1st-rounder Sedrick Ellis will battle incumbent DTs Hollis Thomas and Brian Young for a starting spot. FS Kevin Kaesviharn is battling Josh Bullocks for the starting spot and FA CB Randall Gay will compete with Jason David and rookie Tracy Porter.

New York Giants - The offense is set with some backup battles looming. DE Justin Tuck could replace the retired Michael Strahan if they leave Matthias Kiwanuka at SLB. Gerris Wilkinson will battle veteran Danny Clark for the WLB job. Rookie S Kenny Phillips will battle S's Sammy Knight and James Butler for a starting spot while CBs Corey Webster and Sam Madison will duke it out to start opposite Aaron Ross.

Philadelphia Eagles - The offense is set as no explosive playmakers were added. Victor Abiamiri is the favorite to be the base LDE but will come out in passing situations. MLB Omar Gaither is moving to WLB to accommodate Stewart Bradley but Bradley has to prove he can do the job. FA CB Asante Samuel will start and Lito Sheppard is on the outside looking in his competition with Sheldon Brown to be the other starter.

St. Louis Rams - C Brett Romberg will battle OL Mark Setterstrom while rookie RT John Greco is expected to push Alex Barron. Veteran Chris Draft will battle Quinton Culberson for an OLB spot but Draft's ability to back up all three spots has usually kept him from starting in his career. For a poor team, there aren't many battles but a lot of injured players returning to their former starting spots.

San Francisco 49ers - If the coaching staff is to be believed, there is a real battle between former 1st-overall QB Alex Smith and undrafted Shaun Hill. WRs Arnaz Battle will compete with Bryant Johnson and Ashley Lelie to start alongside FA Isaac Bruce. The O-line will see competition at the three interior spots and the D-line has competition also. Jeff Ulbrich, Brandon Moore, FA Dontarrious Thomas and even rookie 7th-rounder Larry Grant are in a battle for the ILB spot alongside Patrick Willis. Michael and Keith Lewis will battle for a safety spot beside Mark Roman.

Seattle Seahawks - FA Julius Jones is the favorite over Maurice Morris and T.J. Duckett for the RB spot. The RG spot is open and Rob Sims is ahead of Chris Gray, Floyd Womack, Ray Willis and Mansfield Wrotto. If DT Marcus Tubbs is finally healthy after two missed seasons, he could beat out DTs Rocky Bernard or Brandon Mebane. PKs Olindo Mare and rookie Brandon Coutu may have company is they don't improve on poor summers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Donald Penn and Luke Petitgout will vie for the LT spot. CB Philip Buchanon will be in tough to hold off 1st-round CB Aqib Talib. This is a veteran team with few open contests.

Washington Redskins - The offense is set and the depth was greatly improved. The defense is set but an aging D-line didn't get help. There is a battle at punter as Derrick Frost will try to hold off rookie Durant Brooks.