The 2012 season is just days away from kicking off and this looks like an exciting season with a lot of big-name rookies expected to make a huge impact. But you can’t talk about those rookies without the inevitable comparisons. Here’s a look at some of the top rookies and how they compare to their contemporaries.

Which teams will make up the top five NFL defenses in 2012?

Added realism is going to make this year’s version of Madden 13 one worth checking out.

Mario Williams is just a piece — and expensive piece — for the Bills and he’s not going to make them a great defense tomorrow.

Just a week ago, the Bills beat the media’s favorite “Dream Team” and now sit atop the AFC East. At 4-1, do the Bills have what it takes to be a contender this year? A lot of questions can be answered after Sunday’s game with the New York Giants.

The Bills got hit with a key injury early in Sunday’s game in Kansas City, as starting CB Terrence McGee has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Every Wednesday this season, the research staff at “Playbook” will be taking your questions through email (playbook@nfl.com) and on Twitter (@NFLN_Playbook, with #askplaybook hashtag), and answering them in this blog. Here is the first batch of questions we’ve selected.

Is the Shawne Merriman era nearly over in San Diego? At least one person close to the team thinks so.

A roundup of injury updates from Week 3.

Shawne Merriman won’t return for the Chargers on Sunday due to a calf injury, while Louis Vasquez has also been sidelined by an injury.

At some point, we expect Shawne Merriman to sign his restricted free agent tender, report to the Chargers, and play football. But there’s no telling exactly when that will be.

Tom Brady reported to Patriots training camp with the team’s rookies Sunday, according to The Boston Globe. Brady and the Patriots also have begun discussing a contract extension.

Shawne Merriman has yet to sign his restricted free agent tender with the Chargers, and hasn’t decided when he’ll show up to training camp, either.

Players have until 11:59 ET Monday night to sign their tenders, or their clubs could then lower the offers from the original levels. The teams would also still retain the players’ rights for the 2010 season.

Come on people, isn’t there a better use for Twitter other than to talk trash?