The Steelers return 20 of 22 starters, which makes them strong contenders to repeat as Super Bowl champions. They still have Dick LeBeau running the defense, and his players call him “The Wizard,” which reflects the schemes and creativity he brings. The offense still has Ben Roethlisberger under center and returns RB Rashard Mendenhall after a season-ending shoulder injury last year.

NFL.com conducted a marathon Hall of Fame chat today. And it was quite a punch into the sternum of Los Angeles Rams fans.

Lining up against Deacon Jones seems like an imposing task. Doing it in your first start as right tackle, in front of 80,000 people in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with the future Hall of Fame defensive end barking at you — nearly impossible.

The Kansas City Chiefs announced that they have signed DE Tyson Jackson, the third overall pick in April’s draft. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Baltimore Colts Hall of Fame WR/RB Lenny Moore received quite a surprise when LaDainian Tomlinson approached his record for scoring a touchdown in 18 consecutive appearances in 2005. Moore was not surprised that Tomlinson was approaching his record. Moore was surprised that he even had the record.

Michael Fabiano takes a look at some of the most surprising trends from NFL.com’s fantasy ADP (average draft position) and tells people why his experience in drafts has been somewhat different than what those numbers suggest.

Bad news for some of the fringe players waiting on the Hall of Fame, like Cris Carter, Shannon Sharpe and Andre Reed. That wait could become even longer as Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice will be taking two of the available spots in the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Injury lists for some teams are already reaching double-digits, and the games haven’t even begun.

It’s been three years since John Madden was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That’s when the former Raiders coach made his memorable comment that he was sure the busts inside the Hall talk to each other. Back again for this year’s enshrinement weekend, Madden doesn’t back down from that belief.

We’re one day away from the induction and The Hall of Fame is buzzing, as a ton of Steelers and Bills fans are milling around the gift shop and in Canton, Ohio.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has many traditions. The busts, the gold jackets … and taking bets on who will be the fastest to break down and cry during their induction speech. Former Eagles WR Tommy McDonald was determined not to cry when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998. Although tears of laughter likely rolled down the cheeks of many Hall of Famers.

There are more than 80 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame here for this weekend’s enshrinement festivities, almost all of them staying at the McKinley Grand Hotel in downtown Canton. Which happens to be where the NFL Auctions crew has set up shop.

The Associated Press reports that new Broncos QB Kyle Orton was booed by a crowd of more than 13,000 at Invesco Field on Thursday night. It marked the unofficial Broncos debut for Orton, who was traded from the Bears for Pro Bowl QB Jay Cutler in April.

According to the Associated Press, Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez might have gained a slight edge over veteran Kellen Clemens for the starting job.

One of the biggest surprises in the NFL last season was the Titans’ improbable run to a league-best 13-3 regular-season record and the dethroning of the almighty Colts, snapping Indianapolis’ five-year reign as AFC South champions. Even more stunning was the rebirth of 36-year-old Kerry Collins, who led the Titans to a 10-0 start and a No.1 seed in the AFC playoff race. Now, everyone wants to know if the Titans can do it again with Collins at quarterback.