Eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback Deion Sanders is slated to return to the league he once dazzled, ending a three-year absence from the field to play the role of nickel back (that's the position, not the atrocious Canadian band) for the Baltimore Ravens.

Upon hearing that Sanders was returning to the game at age 37, this observer was saddened. Not because I don't think Sanders can have an impact with the Ravens, and not because I think he'll fail to live up to his former electrifying ways. It's just that I have been waiting since 1995 for the follow-up album to Deion's 1995 hip-hop smash album "Primetime," and now I fear I will have to wait another year. The man that paved the way for artists like OutKast and Black Eyed Peas with tracks such as "Time for Prime", "House of Prime," and "Y U NV Me" (go ahead, sound it out) won't be in the studio until at least January, it seems.

Yes, Sanders' re-emergence is good for the Ravens and the NFL, which waited three years for the world-class athlete and bold spokesman to step back onto the gridiron. But for the struggling music industry, which has been suffering for nearly a decade without Deion's skills of both composition and performance, the wait continues.

Below are some unsolicited predictions, awards, and trends for the NFL's 85th season, beginning with my projected league standings. Full preseason previews of all 32 league teams are available in the click-down menu on the left side of the NFL front page (www.sportsnetwork.com):

NFC East 1. Philadelphia (12-4) 2. Washington (9-7) 3. Dallas (7-9) 4. N.Y. Giants (4-12)

NFC North 1. Minnesota (10-6) Green Bay (10-6) 3. Detroit (7-9) 4. Chicago (5-11)

NFC South 1. Atlanta (10-6) 2. New Orleans (9-7) 3. Carolina (8-8) Tampa Bay (8-8)

NFC West 1. Seattle (10-6) 2. St. Louis (9-7) 3. San Francisco (6-10) 4. Arizona (2-14)

NFC Wild Card Round: Atlanta over Washington, Seattle over Green Bay NFC Divisional Playoff: Philadelphia over Atlanta, Minnesota over Seattle NFC Championship: Philadelphia over Minnesota

AFC East 1. New England (14-2) 2. Buffalo (7-9) N.Y. Jets (7-9) 4. Miami (3-13)

AFC North 1. Baltimore (11-5) 2. Cincinnati (9-7) 3. Pittsburgh (8-8) 4. Cleveland (4-12)

AFC South 1. Indianapolis (12-4) 2. Tennessee (11-5) 3. Houston (7-9) 4. Jacksonville (6-10)

AFC West 1. Kansas City (11-5) 2. Denver (10-6) 3. Oakland (7-9) 4. San Diego (3-13)

AFC Wild Card Round: Kansas City over Denver, Baltimore over Tennessee AFC Divisional Playoff: New England over Baltimore, Kansas City over Indianapolis AFC Championship: New England over Kansas City Super Bowl: New England over Philadelphia

OFFICIAL AWARDS Most Valuable Player: Tom Brady, New England Offensive Player of the Year: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Defensive Player of the Year: Jevon Kearse, Philadelphia Offensive Rookie of the Year: Julius Jones, Dallas Defensive Rookie of the Year: Sean Taylor, Washington Coach of the Year: Joe Gibbs, Washington Comeback Player of the Year: Rich Gannon, Oakland

BREAKOUT PLAYER Chris Brown, Tennessee. The Titans cut Eddie George in the offseason, all but assuring Brown of a starting backfield job. The second-year man out of Colorado is set up for success, as he will run behind a strong, veteran line and will benefit from the still-significant presence of quarterback Steve McNair. If Brown can stay healthy, the Pro Bowl could be in his immediate future.

BREAKDOWN PLAYER Vinny Testaverde, Dallas. Testaverde is 40, and the Cowboys line is not strong enough to consistently keep him out of harm's way. Yes, Testaverde is an accurate passer with a good mind for the game, but there's little chance his body will sustain him through a 16-game season. Dallas fans eager to see Drew Henson will get their wish sooner rather than later.

FORGOTTEN PLAYER YOU WILL QUICKLY REMEMBER Drew Bledsoe, Buffalo. Bledsoe seems to have benefited from a new coaching staff that includes former Steelers offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey (head coach), former Steelers quarterback coach Tom Clements (offensive coordinator), and former Bengals and Buccaneers head coach Sam Wyche (quarterbacks). His supporting cast is also better, with first-round pick and receiver Lee Evans looking like a stud and running backs Travis Henry and Willis McGahee taking much of the pressure off. The Bills will struggle to make the playoffs, but it won't be because of Bledsoe.

REMEMBERED PLAYER YOU WILL QUICKLY FORGET Keenan McCardell, Tampa Bay. The wide receiver looks to be at a point of no return in his contract dispute with the Bucs, whining about the mere $2.5 million he was set to receive this year and tattling on teammate Dwight Smith for a couple of missed practices. McCardell caught 84 passes and scored eight touchdowns last year, but he is 34 and the team has no interest in paying him Randy Moss-type dollars. The Bucs traded for Joey Galloway in the offseason, signed free agent Tim Brown during training camp, and are banking on first- round draft pick Michael Clayton (LSU) to pick up any additional slack. Meanwhile, McCardell sits at home, presumably waiting for the trade or release that is growing increasingly unlikely.

TEAM THAT REALLY WILL BE THAT GOOD New England. Talk about a Super Bowl hangover all you want, but the Patriots are the real deal. They have a feature running back, a quarterback that is outstanding and getting better, a stable of gifted receivers, two strong lines, solid linebackers and one of the best secondary units in the league. Did we mention special teams? How about depth? Coaching? New England has them all, and the opportunity to watch this team will be reason enough for Red Sox fans to stay off the ledge in October.

TEAM THAT WILL BE BETTER THAN EXPECTED Washington. The presence of once-and-future head coach Joe Gibbs is a major reason why this team will be improved, but it's not the only one. Clinton Portis gives the Redskins the home run back the team has lacked since Stephen Davis departed, and the addition of key personnel among the defensive front seven (Mike Barrow, Marcus Washington, Phillip Daniels, Cornelius Griffin) could be of even greater significance. A playoff berth is a distinct possibility.

TEAM THAT WON'T BE AS GOOD AS EXPECTED Carolina. Three starters are gone from last year's offensive line, and one of the players tabbed as a replacement, Adam Meadows, retired during training camp. Half of the 2003 starting secondary has also departed via free agency. The schedule is murder, with trips to Kansas City, Denver, Philadelphia, and Seattle looming outside the NFC South, which oh-by-the-way is the best division in football. Don't be surprised if the Panthers are the fifth Super Bowl runner-up in six seasons to miss the playoffs the following year.

TEAM THAT WILL BE GOOD, BUT NOT THAT GOOD Seattle. The Seahawks are a fashionable pick to make the Super Bowl, but frankly, this team doesn't look much better than last year's 10-6 squad. The three players that were supposed to solidify the defense - end Grant Wistrom, cornerback Bobby Taylor, and tackle Marcus Tubbs - have all been hurt, ineffective, or both during training camp. Seattle will win the NFC West because the division is a joke, but there's no way this team is better than the Eagles.

TEAM THAT WILL BE BAD, BUT NOT THAT BAD San Francisco. It is dangerous to assume that because a team has no elite offensive players, and the Niners don't, it will be terrible. Don't forget that Tim Rattay was 2-1 as a starting quarterback last season and running back Kevan Barlow rushed for 1,000 yards despite splitting time with Garrison Hearst. The heir apparent to Terrell Owens at wide receiver is rangy first- round pick Rashaun Woods, who scored 42 TDs over his final three years at Oklahoma State and is polished. The Julian Peterson-led defense is underrated. The 49ers don't figure to be a playoff team, but if you sleep on them, you'll take the loss.

TEAM THAT REALLY WILL BE THAT BAD Arizona. Dennis Green is a great coach, and anyone who knows the game expects him to get it turned around eventually. But the point-spread on a Cardinals/Berlin Thunder contest would be a about a pick-'em at this point. The lines are horrendous. The talented receivers are all hurt. The running back, Emmitt Smith, came into the league the same year as Red Grange. Green is good, but Vince Lombardi himself couldn't make these Cardinals fly.

LEADING TEAM IN THE ANDREW WALTER SWEEPSTAKES Cleveland, by a nose over Chicago. For the unacquainted, Walter is the 6-5, 238-pound Arizona State quarterback that is very likely to be the first signal-caller selected in next spring's draft. Even if Jeff Garcia has a decent year in Cleveland, it is improbable that the 34-year-old will be part of the team's long-term plans. If the Browns are gun-shy about taking a quarterback following the Tim Couch disaster, the Bears might take advantage. Chicago will be in the market for a QB if Rex Grossman plays like Florida quarterbacks usually do.

LEADING TEAM IN THE MIKE WILLIAMS SWEEPSTAKES San Diego. Unless the former USC receiver pulls an Eli, he'll be catching passes from Philip Rivers at this time next season. As for 2003, the Chargers are trotting out Eric Parker and Tim Dwight as their starting receivers on opening day. Enough said.

NEXT COORDINATOR TO BECOME A HEAD COACH Charlie Weis. The New England Patriots' offensive coordinator has put together two Super Bowl-winning offenses without the benefit of a running game, and his quarterback on both teams was a former sixth-round draft pick that is still not considered to have elite-level size or skills. He's flirted with the Buccaneers and Raiders in recent years, but Weis should be able to name his job if the Patriots have the type of season that is expected of them. Miami is an early guess.

NEXT HEAD COACH TO BECOME A COORDINATOR Mike Martz. The Rams appear to be a team on the decline, and if they miss the playoffs this season, Martz could take the fall. His dubious decision-making in last year's postseason defeat against Carolina has resonated with fans that were still smarting from the Super Bowl loss to the less-talented Patriots following the 2001 season. Martz might be better suited for an offensive coordinator job, and many would seek his services if St. Louis were to cut him loose.

BEST MONDAY NIGHT GAME New England at Kansas City, 11/22. The Vikings/Colts matchup on Nov. 8 is a close second in this category, but since that game will be played in the NFL wasteland that is Indianapolis, we pick Arrowhead Stadium and its top-flight football atmosphere. By Week 11, these teams should each be talking about homefield advantage, and the fact that two of the league's most exciting offenses will be featured is no small bonus.

WORST MONDAY NIGHT GAME Miami at N.Y. Jets, 11/1. My goodness. ABC executives must have gone into convulsions when Ricky Williams quit and they realized that they had the woeful Dolphins on not once, but twice (12/20 vs. New England) as part of their Monday night package. Miami's top candidate for the horse-trailer is probably Matt Turk, who will make a serious run at the all-time record for punts in a season (114). Not that the Jets necessarily scream "must see TV," but maybe they'll at least bring Joe Namath down to the sideline for an interview.

BEST HOLIDAY GAME Denver at Tennessee, 12/25. Thanksgiving takes a back seat to Christmas in the hearts and minds of most 8-year-olds. The NFL clearly feels the same way, as the traditional Turkey Day double-header (Colts at Lions, Bears at Cowboys) pales in comparison to the first-ever Christmas two-fer (Raiders at Chiefs, Broncos at Titans). Expect the Denver/Tennessee battle to feature a wealth of playoff implications, which is unlikely to be the case in either of the Thanksgiving contests.

MOST INTRIGUING GAME BETWEEN TWO GOOD TEAMS Baltimore at Philadelphia, 10/31. This one features two of the league's top teams even before you get to the main storyline, which will revolve around Philadelphia wide receiver Terrell Owens. To recap, The Eagles and Ravens engaged in a much-publicized offseason struggle regarding Owens, who was traded to Baltimore from San Francisco after his agent failed to file the proper paperwork to make Owens a free agent. The wideout protested the trade, expressing his desire to become a free agent and play for the Eagles, and the Ravens begrudgingly granted the request after the NFL Player's Union filed a grievance on his behalf. Owens will now have to face the team that he spurned, and will be forced to meet up with Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis, who has engaged in some verbal sparring with the receiver since the would-be trade fell apart.

MOST INTRIGUING GAME BETWEEN TWO AVERAGE TEAMS Tampa Bay at Oakland, 9/26. In addition to being a rematch of Super Bowl XXXVII, this game will see Warren Sapp, Tim Brown, Charlie Garner, and of course Bucs head coach Jon Gruden all facing their former teams. If the Raiders can somehow acquire Keenan McCardell and Keyshawn Johnson before kickoff, we could be looking at a blood feud.

LEAST INTRIGUING GAME, PERIOD Arizona at Miami, 11/7. Not to pile on the Cardinals and Dolphins, but seriously, this Arizona/Miami confrontation would have been much better if it featured the Wildcats and Hurricanes.

Next Week at the Line of Scrimmage: Week 1 Predictions, Opinions, News and Notes