With NFL camps two weeks away, Pats are No. 1

Two weeks, give or take, till training camps. Let's talk football...

Yes, the wildcard New York Giants got hot when they needed to and won the Super Bowl. Good for them. But now we start over. So our first NFL top 10 - pre-camp edition - has the G-Men sixth. And, as was the case last season, they're not even the best shot from the NFC East to get to the title game.

That would be the Cowboys, but you already knew that, Dallas fans. They already had the most talent in the NFC. Then came that big defensive boost from signing Pacman Jones and drafting Mike Jenkins.

Still, the top spot goes to the:

1. New England Patriots. Tom Brady. Coach Hoodie. Don't have to like them. Sooooo have to respect them.

2. Dallas Cowboys. OK, the ladies love Tony Romo. More important: his receivers do, too.

3. Indianapolis Colts. Peyton Manning re-takes his deserved spotlight from little brother Eli. Caveat: See No. 4.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars. Coordinator Gregg Williams and a few key new additions come to the defense. Beware, Peyton.

5. San Diego Chargers. Gotta love LaDanian Tomlinson, but can't get past my Norv Turner issue. Will try harder on this.

6. New York Giants. Tom Coughlin wins Super Bowl and gets long-term deal. Hey, you take the bad with the good.

7. Minnesota Vikings. LT Bryant McKinnie is 6-foot-8, 350! Rising Vikes get benefit of doubt just for feeding him.

8. Seattle Seahawks. Nice people, great coffee, cool fish market, loudest stadium in league, balanced team in lousy division. So what's a little rain?

9. Pittsburgh Steelers. It's good for NFL when Steelers are good. Tweaked O-line needs to cooperate, but Steelers are good.

10. Philadelphia Eagles. Brian Westbrook plays here, quietly. You'll realize how good he is when he's gone.

Raven mad

News item: PETA demands the Baltimore Ravens say "nevermore" to using real ravens in their pre-game buildup.

Sorry. Can't get worked up over this one. Dog fighting, it ain't. I say the Ravens weather the PC storm and let the birds fly.

I know that just because something's a tradition doesn't mean it's correct. But placing animals in front of big, noisy sports crowds dates back at least to Ty Cobb.

OK, bad joke.

Often, it's horses, not even including thoroughbred or harness racing. Some guy in a Cavalier getup gallops a horse onto the field before University of Virginia football games. Navy has Bill the Goat, Georgia its long line of UGA bulldogs. Hawks hover and falcons flit elsewhere. On and on.

And what about the theme parks where sea mammals perform for our screaming, camera-flashing pleasure, preceded by the flight of eagles? Is all this really making life hideous for these poor creatures? And are we Neanderthals to get a degree of delight from their beauty and grace?

I'll say this, and nothing more: I think not.

Hall of famers

Former Redskins Darrell Green and Art Monk, teammates for 11 years who will enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame next month, have started their "Route 281" fundraising tour to benefit their respective charitable interests.

The old friends - Green wore No. 28, Monk 81 - say they're holding a string of galas and other events to capitalize on the attention surrounding their induction.

Route281.com lists a stop July 19 in Fredericksburg and July 26 in Winchester. Other Virginia events are planned in August in Staunton (Aug. 22) and Fishersville (23rd). A Virginia Beach gala had been tentatively scheduled, but it now appears doubtful.

Tom Robinson, (757) 446-2518 or tom.robinson@pilotonline.com