NEW YORK (AP) – Ballot and comments from AP Pro 32 panel voter Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune:
IRA KAUFMAN (Tampa Tribune)
1. New England – Brady Bunch is back, hungrier than ever.
2. Green Bay – Under Mike McCarthy, Packers play smart, precise football.
3. Houston – Wade Phillips has worked wonders with this defense.
4. San Francisco – Nasty and physical on both sides of ball.
5. New York Giants – Defending champs always mount sturdy pass rush.
6. Pittsburgh – If Ben Roethlisberger stays healthy, look out.
7. Denver – Keeping Peyton Manning upright is Job 1.
8. Baltimore – Time running out for Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.
9. Dallas – Do Cowboys have what it takes to win in crunch time?
10. New York Jets – Tim Tebow will either push Mark Sanchez or replace him.
11. Atlanta – That seat under Mike Smith is getting a little toasty.
12. Detroit – Spent much of the offseason filling police blotters.
13. San Diego – Vincent Jackson and Kris Dielman represent key departures.
14. Carolina – Blessed with powerful line in front of dynamic Cam Newton.
15. Kansas City – This young defense has a chance to be special.
16. New Orleans – Absence of Sean Payton and Carl Nicks cripples record-setting attack.
17. Philadelphia – Only club in top 10 on each side of ball last season.
18. Chicago – Healthy Jay Cutler is key to NFC wild-card run.
19. Cincinnati – Passing tandem of Andy Dalton and A.J. Green will only get better.
20. Washington – Robert Griffin III will outshine fellow rookie Andrew Luck.
21. Tennessee – Time of possession was major problem in 2011.
22. Miami – Drab offense continues to torment Dolphins fans.
23. Buffalo – Addition of Mario Williams keeps hope alive in Western New York.
24. Arizona – Tough to beat when Cardinals don’t beat themselves.
25. Seattle – Pete Carroll quietly building depth in Pacific Northwest.
26. Tampa Bay – Could feature eight new starters under first-year coach Greg Schiano.
27. Cleveland – Don’t be shocked if Trent Richardson runs for 1,500 yards.
28. St. Louis – Jeff Fisher brings respectability to sideline.
29. Oakland – Late Al Davis wouldn’t recognize this overhauled roster.
30. Minnesota – Double trouble: trapped in tough division with erratic passing game.
31. Indianapolis – Rebuilding intensifies for franchise used to contending for titles.
32. Jacksonville – Without Maurice Jones-Drew, this punchless club would go 0-16.
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