Stuff about football that has nothing to do with Brett Favre.

- Panthers WR Steve Smith says he's sorry and he'll be a good boy from now on: "I feel horrible. That's the thing I don't think people realize, is how remorseful I am." (Pro Football Weekly)

- There was a real football game last night. As real as preseason gets, anyway. (ESPN)

- The first top 25 poll is out, and six teams got at least one first-place vote. (USA Today)

- We did not promise no Packers news at all, however: QB Aaron Rodgers completed just 35% of his passes in the team's scrimmage, and got booed by the fans. (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

- The negotiations between the Rams and holdout running back Steven Jackson are because Jackson wants $20 million in guaranteed money. EZB is betting he gets it. (Pro Football Weekly)

- Reggie Bush wants to prove he's not a bust this season. Which would be easier if he knew how to run between the tackles. (Mississippi Sun Herald)

- Patriots LB Jerod Mayo is showing well at New England's camp thus far. (Boston Herald)

The release of Madden '09 is just around the corner, now less than two weeks away. So until then, here is a cool trailer featuring some of the numerous player celebrations.

What's happening around the league.

- An update on WR DeSean Jackson (photo) and his progress at Eagles camp so far, which has included things like carrying other people's equipment and rehabbing hamstring pulls. (philadelphia inquirer)

- Rams DE Leonard Little's toe is healthy, and the team expects big things from their veteran lineman. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

- Hey, Brett Favre, here's $20 million, now go away. (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

- Tracking the daily progress of QB's Alex Smith and Shaun Hill at 49ers camp. (San Francisco Chronicle)

- Safety John Lynch has left the Broncos in order to try and seek employment elsewhere, or possibly even retire. (ESPN.com)

- QB Byron Leftwichvisited the Titans for a workout, but just so the team "knows where he's at" physically. (The Tennessean)

- The competition for the Arizona Cardinals No. 3 receiver spot is up for grabs, and so far Steve Breaston appears to be the leading candidate. (Arizona Republic)

Here now, a look at the predicted order of finish for the BCS Conference schools.

ACC

Coastal
1. Virginia Tech
2. North Carolina
3. Miami
4. Georgia Tech
5. Virginia
6. Duke

Atlantic
1. Clemson
2. Florida State
3. Wake Forest
4. Maryland
5. Boston College
6. NC State

Big East

1. West Virginia
2. South Florida
3. Cincinnati
4. Rutgers
5. Pittsburgh
6. Connecticut
7. Louisville
8. Syracuse

Big 10

1. Ohio State
2. Wisconsin
3. Illinois
4. Purdue
5. Michigan
6. Penn State
7. Michigan State
8. Indiana
9. Iowa
10. Northwestern
11. Minnesota

Big 12

Big 12 North
1. Missouri
2. Kansas State
3. Kansas
4. Colorado
5. Nebraska
6. Iowa State

Big 12 South
1. Oklahoma
2. Texas
3. Texas Tech
4. Texas A&M
5. Oklahoma State
6. Baylor

Pac -10

1. USC
2. Arizona State
3. California
4. Oregon
5. UCLA
6. Arizona
7. Washington
8. Oregon State
9. Washington State
10. Stanford

 

SEC

SEC East
1. Florida
2. Georgia
3. South Carolina
4. Tennessee
5. Kentucky
6. Vanderbilt

SEC West
1. LSU
2. Auburn
3. Alabama
4. Ole Miss
5. Mississippi State
6. Arkansas

College football begins in about a month, and with that goes the race for the Heisman Trophy. Here are one man's opinion of the top five candidates, in no particular order. And if you're interested in knowing what Vegas thinks, here are some odds on a number of candidates.

- Tim Tebow, QB, Florida Gators: I think we're all familiar with his work. Won last year after passing and rushing for a combined 55 touchdowns. Clearly the favorite to win again.

- Chase Daniel, QB, Missouri Tigers: Daniel was a finalist last season, and he could be even better in 2008 as a senior. Missouri has a legitimate chance to win the Big 12, and should Daniel come close to or improve on last season's 33 TD passes and 4,300 passing yards, he'll be in the mix.

- Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State Buckeyes: Of the eight players who had more rushing yards than Wells in 2007, three were first round selections in the NFL draft, two were second round selections, two went in the third round, and only one is still playing college football - Kent State's Eugene Jarvis. Which pretty much makes Wells the premier running back in the college ranks.

- Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma Sooners: Not everybody knows this, but Bradford actually led the NCAA in passing efficiency last season. He was the only QB in the nation that had at least 10% of his pass attempts go for TD's. If Oklahoma can make a run at the national championship, Bradford will be in the Heisman race.

- Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech Red Raiders: Wide receivers generally do not win the Heisman in this day and age, so Crabtree is a longshot, but he led college football in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TD's. If he does that twice in a row, it will be difficult to ignore.

News and notes from around NFL training camps. And FYI - this will remain a Favre-free zone.

- Jessica Simpson will be attending Cowboys training camp soon. Hey, there are going to be HBO cameras there, so I'm sure daddy thought it would be a good idea for her to get a little face time. (dallas morning news)

- Apparently Bengals WR Chad Johnson still has an ankle boo-boo, as he did not practice with the team yesterday. (Cincinnati Enquirer)

- There is a battle at the center position of the offensive line going on for the Rams between Richie Incognito and Brett Romberg. Put your money on Incognito to win out. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

- Nobody is really too sure why Eagles G Shawn Andrews is missing camp, other than for person reasons. Seems it's not about his weight, or a new contract, but just "personal issues," whatever that may mean. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

- Steelers DT Casey Hampton was put on the Physically-Unable-to-Perform list, but not for any injury - for showing up to camp too fat. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

- Former Chargers RB Natrone Means is back in the NFL, but as a coach in Carolina, or to be exact, a coaching intern. He's helping coach rookie RB Jonathan Stewart. (Charlotte Observer)

- The Miami Dolphins offense had such a brutal day of practice that Miami Herald reporter Armando Salguero says the best play of the day was a checkdown pass to a running back. (Miami Herald)