Kobe keeps impressing

Kobe Bryant recently added to his already impressive trophy collection with his first MVP award. What's more, he and the Lakers have a dominating 2-0 lead over the defending champion Spurs and it looks like Kobe is in the drivers seat to win his fourth NBA Championship. But it's not what the superstar is doing on the court that is impressing the online world -- it's what he was able to do off the court with the help of the crew from Jackass that has once again caught our attention.

He's jumped over an Aston Martin so what could he do next? Don't take my word, check out Kobe's new video for yourselves. 

AFC Predictions

The NFL Season opener is four months away, but its never too early to get some pre-season predictions in. Here is the way things are going to shape up in the AFC in 2008. 

AFC East

1) New England Patriots* - Is there any doubt that the combo of Brady to Moss won't terrorize the league for years to come? Don't expect the Super Bowl loss to de-rail the reigning AFC champs.

2) Buffalo Bills - The Bills finished off last season strong, but not strong enough to reach the playoffs. Second year players Trent Edwards and Marshawn Lynch will be relied on heavily if the Bills want to return to the playoffs and erase memories of the Music City Miracle.

3) New York Jets - The Jets shoveled out over $130 million in new players like Alan Faneca, Calvin Pace, and Bubba Franks but we'll see if these newbies can turn around a Jets team that only won four games last year, two against Miami.

4) Miami Dolphins - They'll win more than one game but not too many more. Bill Parcells has the team going in the right direction however, if dancing star Jason Taylor goes somewhere else the Dolphins will only dig themselves a deeper hole. 

AFC North 

1) Cleveland Browns* - They were the leagues biggest surprise last year, but it wasn't enough to make the playoffs. Phil Savage made marvelous off-season transactions that                        

could put this team over the edge, if Derek Anderson plays like last year nothing can stop Cleveland from getting 10+ wins.

2) Pittsburgh Steelers* - Willie Parker is the real deal but when he went down last season so did Pittsburgh. The addition of Rashard Mendenhal will solidify the backfield, and Limas Sweed gives Big Ben that tall receiving target to compliment Hines Ward. 

3) Baltimore Ravens - Two years ago Baltimore was 13-3 last season they were 5-11, it's anyones guess which team will show up this year. The defense is always strong but can Joe Flacco bring the Ravens their long awaited savior on offense?

4) Cincinnati Bengals - Since 2001 only Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison/Reggie Wayne have connected on more passes than Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson. With Johnson sitting out the entire team will struggle. 

AFC West

1) San Diego Chargers* - Last season started off rocky but the Chargers survived, and finished one game away from the Super Bowl. Norv Turner proved he can win in the playoffs and he did it without a healthy Phillip Rivers, Antonio Gates, OR LaDanian Tomlinson. This team is ready to make it to the next level.

2) Oakland Raiders - I might lose all my credentials with this pick but I'm going out on a limb here. DeAngello Hall and Gibril Wilson solidify a defense that has finished in the top five the last three years. JaMarcus Russell, Javon Walker, and Darren McFadden will need to step up big for Oakland to succeed.

3) Denver Broncos - Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall flashed signs as the next great pass and catch duo, but off season issues have put the two at odds. If the Broncos look to stop their two year playoff drought their once powerful defense will have to drastically improve from their mediocre 2007 performance.

4) Kansas City Chiefs - When they traded Jared Allen they gave up on this season; however, their fantastic draft gave the Chiefs the building blocks for many winning seasons to come.

AFC South 

1) Indianapolis Colts* - Don't let the Marvin Harrison off-season debacle fool you the Colts are still the cream of the crop of the AFC South.

2) Jacksonville Jaguars* - Of all teams in the AFC South the Jaguars are the most poised to overtake the Colts. David Garrard is a bona-fide star ready to lead his team back to the playoffs. In my opinion the most underrated off-season move is Greg Williams leaving Washington and taking over the defensive reins in Jacksonville.

 

3) Houston Texans - The team finished 8-8 for the first time in the franchises history and controversial 2006 first overall pick Mario Williams has come in to his own, look for the Texans to leave the basement of the AFC South for the first time since joining the NFL. 

4) Tennessee Titans - Their defense was nearly flawless in the first half of last season but struggled down the stretch. The Titans failed to get Vince Young any play-makers in the draft but look for first round bust Mike Williams to come back to life and quite possible re-energize the Titans flat offense. 

*Denotes playoff bound team

NFC Predictions

The NFL season opener is four months away, but it's never too early to get some pre-season predictions in. Here it is the way things are going to shape up in the NFC in 2008. 

NFC East

1) Dallas Cowboys* - Tony Romo might be a choke artist in the playoffs but he's a masterful play maker during the regular season, not to mention T.O. is in his contract year. 

2) Philadelphia Eagles* - Asante Samuel will solidify an already strong 

secondary, and DeSean Jackson could be a surprise play maker that Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook have been looking for. 

3) New York Giants* - Fresh off a Super Bowl victory the Giants will be looking for a repeat, while they may not win the NFC East crown they'll definitely fi

nd themselves back in the playoff picture.

4) Washington Redskins - The 'Skins made the playoffs without Jason Campbell as their quarterback and it's hard to imagine him leading them there this year. A new offensive coordinator and new head coach will be enough for the fourth year Campbell.

NFC North

1) Minnesota Vikings* - Jared Allen gives Minnesota one of, if not the best defensive lines in the league. Adrian Peterson will continue his dominance on the league; however, the Vikings success is all subject to Tavaris Jackson's play.

2) Chicago Bears -  DA BEARS? They were terrible last year but they do have the players and coaches to change things around in the Windy City. 

3) Green Bay Packers - The young Packers are left w

ithout Favre and now it's up to the inexperienced Aaron Rodgers to lead this team back to the playoffs, sort of a challenge if you ask me.

4) Detroit Lions - The Lions started off strong last year but fell off the face of the earth in the second half, don't expect much from a team who hasn't been to the playoffs during the Bush Administration.

NFC West

1) Seattle Seahawks* - I don't see Seattle losing it's stronghold on the West anytime soon. Cutting ties with Shaun Alexander was a move long overdue, and never count out Matt Hasselbeck he's worked wonders with a receiving corps made up of #2 receivers. 

2) St. Louis Rams -  The Rams battled through injuries to Steven Jackson and Marc Bulger and never got their heads above water; however, if Chris Long lives up to his draft status him and Adam Carriker will wreak havoc on the NFC West.

3) Arizona Cardinals - How long can the dual quarterback system work in the desert? A lot of young talent will ever mesh together for a long awaited winning season, or it could be another disappointing year for Cardinals fans everywhere.

4) San Francisco 49ers - Alex Smith is looking more like a bust every day and with Mike Nolan on the hot seat it looks as if the Niners are in for a heap of trouble. Any and all success rests on the shoulders of Vernon Davis and Frank Gore who both need to bounce back from disappointing 2007 campaigns. 

NFC South

1) New Orleans Saints* - The Saints finally added the missing pieces to their defense and it looks like the 2006 magic could be back this year. However with Will Smith holding out of team activities and Charles Grant in legal trouble the could-be NFC champs might run into trouble.

2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - The last four seasons the team that has finished first one season went to the basement the next, that will change this year. The Bucs have the makings of a solid team who could return to the playoffs if they play like they did last season.

3) Carolina Panthers - Jake Delhomme is coming off Tommy John surgery and Julius Peppers is coming off his worst statistical season, if the Panthers want to win they'll need their two perennial pro-bowlers to step up.

4) Atlanta Falcons - Michael Vick blah blah blah Matt Ryan blah blah blah. The Falcons need help from the top to the bottom and its going to be a long long time before they get back on the right path. Michael Turner will be a solid foundation for Matt Ryan and the Falcons future. 

*Denotes playoff bound team