OPINION

By Albert Breer

updated 6:00 p.m. ET July 11, 2008

Remember when Randy Moss was going to be cut? Or when Brady Quinn was going to be the Browns' starting quarterback?

How about the time when Larry Johnson had the Hard Knocks crew from HBO chronicle his holdout from New York City, showing the tailback chillin' in Gotham while his teammates sweated through Wisconsin workouts?

Yeah, that was only a year ago. Moss caught 23 touchdown passes, establishing a new NFL record. Quinn's 11-day holdout opened the door for Derek "Who?" Anderson to win the starting job in Cleveland and then make the Pro Bowl. Johnson, meanwhile, stayed away from Chiefs camp for 25 days, then signed a six-year, $45 million deal and averaged 3.5 yards per carry before a foot injury ended his season after just eight games.

Point is, while games might not be won and lost in July and August, it's the time of year to see where some pretty pivotal pieces to contenders fit. Here are 10 to watch from the AFC, with camp just a fortnight away...

Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha. If Asomugha hasn't passed Champ Bailey as the NFL's top cornerback, he is nipping at his heels. The trouble is Asomugha is not under contract, after being slapped with the franchise tag. If Tuesday comes and goes without a new deal, a long-term contract can't be negotiated until after the season. Could Asomugha sit out, a la Asante Samuel, in pursuit of additional considerations to the franchise tender?

Jaguars CB Drayton Florence. Jacksonville's woes at wide receiver have been spotlighted, but the Jags' playoff ouster in New England had more to do with the defense's inability to get the Patriots' offense off the field. Tom Brady went 26-of-28 and New England's first punt happened with 32 seconds left. The Jags hope Florence — handed $13 million guaranteed to flee the Chargers -- can pair with Rashean Mathis to help put a stop to that kind of thing.

Colts DE Dwight Freeney. His status for Day 1 of training camp is iffy, after undergoing lisfranc surgery, but the team expects him back later in the summer. The bigger question is whether he'll be able to regain the explosive first step that sets him apart. The old Freeney, even when he wasn't swallowing up quarterbacks, put pressure on opponents' protection like few edge rushers did. We'll see if that guy is back.

Ravens LT Jared Gaither. All Gaither has to do is replace Jonathan Ogden, the first draft pick in club history, a 12-year staple at left tackle, 11-time Pro Bowler and nine-time All-Pro. Gaither (6-9, 350) was taken in the fifth round of the 2007 supplemental draft and possesses rare athleticism for his size. But he is not Ogden and is surrounded by young linemates and, before long, could be protecting a rookie quarterback.

Bengals WR Chad Johnson. His is the most obvious name on the list. It'll be interesting to see if Ocho Cinco falls into line. There also is the issue of his ankle surgery, which, by all accounts, won't keep him off the field for even a day of training camp. What's clear is the Cincinnati offense needs him, and no one needs him more than the team's other star wideout, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the Robin to CJ's Batman.

Bills LB Paul Posluszny. Marcus Stroud and Leodis McKelvin should bolster promising units on the defensive line and in the secondary, respectively. That leaves Posluszny to shore up a linebacker group that also added Kawika Mitchell. Back from a broken arm, Posluszny will play the "Mike" position, making him a critical piece in coverage in Buffalo's Tampa-2 and, Bills coaches hope, a sideline-to-sideline presence for the league's 25th-ranked run defense.

Chargers QB Philip Rivers. Despite his tendency to yap, there won't ever be any question about Rivers' teammates having his back again. But there is that torn ACL, which was surgically repaired less than six months ago. Even if he was on the field at minicamp, there still is some concern about his ability to reach full strength. Carson Palmer had a similarly quick recovery in '06 but struggled early that season.

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Browns DL Shaun Rogers. His physical ability never has been the problem — drive has. Whether he is at nose tackle, the most important position in coach Romeo Crennel's gap-control 3-4, or defensive end, we'll learn plenty about him during camp. The want-to issue is there. But just as important will be Rogers' ability to adapt to a system that requires discipline and selfless play from its linemen as much as it calls for aggression.

Patriots DE Richard Seymour. Once one of the league's most versatile and dominant interior linemen, Seymour has been slowed by knee problems the last two seasons. He says he finally is close to full health. And if that's true, the Patriots' already rock-solid defensive line, with Vince Wilfork at nose and Ty Warren at left end, could reach its potential. And perhaps make New England even tougher to beat.

Jets RT Damien Woody. Expected Alan Faneca? Well, Faneca is far more of a sure thing than Woody, a center/guard for most all of his career who got a five-year, $25 million deal with $11 million guaranteed to play right tackle. The pressure to produce is compounded by New York's lack of depth at the position. If Woody performs well and left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson gets stronger in the running game, this could be a good line.

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