PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
2003: 12-4, first place; defeated Green Bay in divisional round playoff, lost to Carolina in NFC Championship.
Coach: Andy Reid (6th year).
Key additions: DE Jevon Kearse; WR Terrell Owens;
LB Dhani Jones; QB Jeff Blake; LB Jeremiah Trotter.
Key losses: RB Duce Staley; CB Troy Vincent; CB Bobby Taylor; LB Carlos Emmons; OG John Welbourn; DE Marco Coleman; QB A.J. Feeley; WR James Thrash; DL Brandon Whiting.
First-round pick: OT Shawn Andrews.
Key issue: How will the cornerbacks hold up? Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown are the starters. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, the decision could prove haunting.
Playoff outlook: Excellent. But running back depth is a major concern.
–KRT
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DALLAS COWBOYS
2003: 10-6, second place; lost to Carolina in wild-card playoff.
Coach: Bill Parcells (2nd year).
Key additions: QB Drew Henson; WR Keyshawn Johnson; DE Marcellus Wiley; QB Vinny Testaverde; RB Eddie George.
Key losses: QB Quincy Carter; WR Joey Galloway; P Toby Gowin; DE Ebenezer Ekuban; CB Mario Edwards; RB Troy Hambrick.
First-round pick: None.
Key issue: Can Vinny Testaverde make it through the season? Dallas shocked the NFL with the release of Quincy Carter in the first few days of training camp. The move leaves the 40-year-old Testaverde as the new starter.
Playoff outlook: Good to very good. No complacency here. Coach Bill Parcells will have at least nine new starters.
–KRT, TRIBUNE
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WASHINGTON REDSKINS
2003: 5-11, third place.
Coach: Joe Gibbs (1st year; Gibbs previously coached the Redskins for 12 years and retired in 1993).
Key additions: QB Mark Brunell; RB Clinton Portis; DE Phillip Daniels; CB Shawn Springs; C Cory Raymer; WR James Thrash; LB Marcus Washington; LB Micheal Barrow; TE Brian Kozlowski; TE Walter Rasby.
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Key losses: CB Champ Bailey; LB Jessie Armstead; DT Darrell Russell; TE Byron Chamberlain; LB Jeremiah Trotter; DE Bruce Smith; RB Trung Canidate.
First-round pick: FS Sean Taylor.
Key issue: The team made sweeping changes in Gibbs’ return, none more important than the trades that delivered Brunell and Portis. With so many new players–and a new head coach–it might take a while for the team to jell.
Playoff outlook: Good.
–KRT
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NEW YORK GIANTS
2003: 4-12, fourth place.
Coach: Tom Coughlin (1st year).
Key additions: QB Kurt Warner; CB Terry Cousin; LB Carlos Emmons; WR James Mc-Knight; DE Lorenzo Bromell; DT Norman Hand; K Bill Gramatica; LB Barrett Green.
Key losses: LB Micheal Barrow; QB Kerry Collins; RB Brian Mitchell; DT Cornelius Griffin; LB Dhani Jones; LB Brandon Short; CB Ike Charlton; K Mike Hollis.
First-round pick: QB Eli Manning.
Key issue: Will the new linebackers be any better? Carlos Emmons, Nick Greisen and Barrett Green aren’t household names.
Playoff outlook: Poor to fair. With Eli Manning or Kurt Warner, the Giants will resemble more of an expansion team than a playoff team.
–KRT, TRIBUNE
DIVISION MVP: TERRELL OWENS, PHILADELPHIA
If the boisterous wideout works out, the Eagles are in the Super Bowl. If not, they can watch it on TV with us.