The 2011 NFL campaign kicks off in just 12 days, a number that recalls one of the more unusual statistics from last season.

Ellen DeGeneres joined the Saints at practice Friday in Oxnard, Calif.

Tony Moeaki appears to be most of the way back from offseason knee surgery, but can he improve over his surprising rookie season?

Dave and Rank bring in Zach “The Blue Horseshoe” Rosenfield of Accuscore.com for a division-by-division forecast of which teams are playoff-bound.

Former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue was back the NFL headquarters Friday, taping an interview about his recollection of the events during and after 9/11. The interview is part of a memorial feature that will air Sept. 11 on NFL Network’s “GameDay Morning.”

There is an opportunity for the Redskins starting quarterback to be a productive fantasy player. If only John Beck or Rex Grossman would get the nod.

An MRI exam revealed that Redskins rookie DL Jarvis Jenkins has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, according to a league source.

Did you have any issues with Michael Lombardi‘s blue-chip and red-chip rankings of the best players at each position? If you did, you weren’t alone. Watch this clip of Heath Evans and Antwaan Randle El attacking Lombardi for his take on Philip Rivers.

The Buffalo Bills continue to make progress in contract negotiations with DT Kyle Williams and will likely approach WR Stevie Johnson about an extension soon, according to league sources.

The Bengals are engaged in negotiations with CB Leon Hall and OT Andrew Whitworth on contract extensions, according to league sources.

The Raiders are in talks with rookie QB Terrelle Pryor and expect to have a deal done “very, very shortly,” according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Only a few weeks into the preseason, oddsmakers are pondering the question: Who will win the Super Bowl? Fans of every team are certainly hopeful, yet hesitant to be sure, the Lombardi Trophy will be theirs in February. But how can you be sure? What makes your team comparable to Super Bowl champs in recent years?

With only a fortnight left ’til the season kicks off, Dave and Rank welcome NFL Network/Atlanta Falcon/Florida State Seminole/good guy Jamie Dukes to the studio to kibbitz about Peyton Manning and the Colts’ QB situation, Chris Johnson’s future in Tennessee and the Miami Hurricanes’ mess.

We’re 13 days away from the start of the 2011 NFL season, when Drew Brees and the Saints face Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in a Thursday night special. Speaking of special, the most notable No. 13 in NFL history was Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino.

Defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer has been awarded to the Panthers on waivers, according to a league source.