TEE TIME

Day 1 of training camp begins today for the Broncos, leaving Denver with only 193 to go before it upsets Green Bay, 38-34, in Super Bowl XXXII.

What else do you want to know about the 1997 NFL season?

By week’s end, all 30 NFL teams will be in training camp in preparation for the Aug. 31 regular-season kickoff, and for wretched teams like the Jets, Saints and Falcons, all the summer practice in the world will not make perfect.

And while solid playoff bets like the Packers, Cowboys, 49ers and Broncos, and most likely both recent expansion teams, will try to fake it in exhibition play to stay sound for the games that count, the next few weeks will offer a preview to a season already being choreographed by change.

One-third of the teams in the league will have a new coach, and almost as many will feature a new starting quarterback. Bubby Brister and Randall Cunningham are back; Jim Kelly and Jim McMahon are gone. Dick Vermeil and Mike Ditka are coaching again, Bill Parcells went from the best team in the AFC to the worst--voluntarily--and George Seifert, the winningest coach in NFL history, has been replaced by an upstart who couldn’t beat Navy.

So many changes to consider:

* Oakland has Jeff George at quarterback, and to keep him from throwing another sideline tantrum, the Raiders hired the NFL’s nicest guy, Joe Bugel, to stand in as dummy head coach for Al Davis.

* In a strategic move to position themselves for Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning in next year’s NFL draft, Atlanta went after Chris Chandler to be its starting quarterback this season. If successful, this will probably force the NFL to institute an NBA lottery-like draft in the future.

* Hard to believe Jim Everett wasn’t Ditka’s kind of quarterback in New Orleans, but how many games into the season before the TV cameras catch Ditka screaming at Heath Shuler? OK, how many quarters--OK, plays?

* Go figure: Warren Moon is a backup in Seattle, Jeff Hostetler a substitute in Washington, Boomer Esiason No. 2 to Jeff Blake in Cincinnati, Steve Bono in reserve in Green Bay, and Billy Joe Hobert most likely will be one of the NFL’s 30 starting quarterbacks this season.

* With the hiring of Vermeil, now when Ram owner Georgia Frontiere goes dining at Denny’s, she won’t feel embarrassed being the only one eligible for the senior specials.

* Seattle has a new billionaire owner, a plan to build a new multimillion-dollar stadium and a sixth-round draft pick in John Friesz at quarterback.

* The Giants got rid of Dan Reeves--but kept Dave Brown.

* Green Bay good guy Gilbert Brown chose loyalty over more money in Jacksonville and remained a Cheesehead.

* Elvis surfaced in Kansas City, and the Oilers popped up in Memphis.

* The two Bobbys split in San Diego, with Bobby Ross moving to Detroit, and Bobby Beathard remaining behind with a bunch of scrubs.

* Keyshawn Johnson wrote a book, changing the Jets’ locker room chemistry and making millions by telling the world the obvious: Neil O’Donnell is a stiff.

* The 49ers’ futile search for a running back to replace Ricky Watters just might have come to a successful conclusion with the addition of Garrison Hearst.

* The Cowboys are trying to change their image, and although nice guys finish last, Dallas won’t have to worry about that so long as Arizona and the New York Giants remain in their division.

* It has been three years since Los Angeles had a professional football team--strike that--it has been more than eight years since Los Angeles had a professional football team and three years since the Raiders and Rams left town. Probably five more years--with the most optimistic prediction--will pass before football returns.

And beyond all the changes, so many questions remain to be answered before the Broncos end it all in celebration on Jan. 25 in San Diego.

Q: Are the Broncos really the best team in football?

A: No. The Packers are. A year ago it was the big three with the 49ers, Cowboys and Packers outclassing everyone else, but the gap has widened this off-season between Green Bay and the rest of the league. The defending world champions have 21 of 22 returning starters with Gabe Wilkins replacing the retired Sean Jones along the defensive line--and that might be an improvement.

Q: Then why pick the Broncos to win it all?

A: Pressure. The Broncos are under incredible pressure to win, and win right now, as evidenced by the number of off-season moves they made after a 13-3 season. John Elway has one, maybe two years left to play, and the Broncos need political and fan support for a new stadium--something that can be more readily bought with a Lombardi Trophy in hand--or team owner Pat Bowlen might be forced to sell or move his team.

Q: The Broncos couldn’t even beat Jacksonville last year with the home-field advantage, so what’s different this year?

A: Uglier uniforms. The Broncos have always looked hideous dressed in orange--a management plan designed to make them play harder to save face. Now they have even uglier duds to wear and local media that continue to hammer them with reminders of last year’s first-round playoff loss.

Q: Who will finish behind the Broncos in the AFC?

A: Jacksonville, Oakland, Indianapolis and Miami. Jacksonville helped itself in the off-season and has the game’s next superstar in quarterback Mark Brunell. Oakland looks like the runner-up to Denver in the AFC West with an awesome defensive line and a potent offensive attack, which might be sabotaged on occasion by a suspect offensive line. Indianapolis and Miami probably aren’t as good as New England, but the Patriots were driven hard by Parcells and might suffer a letdown under the love-fest tutelage of Pete Carroll.

Q: What are the chances of the Chargers going to the Super Bowl in their own home city?

A: Very good. Each player will be given the opportunity to buy tickets to the game.

Q: Who will challenge the Packers in the NFC?

A: No one. Dallas and San Francisco are in retreat. Dallas has been undermined by the relentless ravages of free agency, and Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin no longer seem invincible. The 49ers remain unbeatable with Steve Young at quarterback, but when he gets hurt this year, San Francisco can only counter with a Steve Mariucci pep talk.

Q: Beyond the Cowboys and 49ers, is there anyone else to make the Packers uncomfortable?

A: The NFC Central Division. Every team has made a serious attempt at improvement, although it can be argued that the Bears went nowhere with the acquisition of Rick Mirer and the Lions will continue to falter with Scott Mitchell at quarterback, while Minnesota takes a gamble with Brad Johnson at quarterback. Tampa finished 5-2 down the stretch under Tony Dungy’s command, a remarkable feat considering Trent Dilfer was the team’s starting quarterback.

Q: What about Philadelphia, Washington and Carolina?

A: The Panthers had a terrific off-season, and if Young is knocked out of the 49er lineup, they will run away with the NFC West title. Philadelphia still has Ty Detmer and Rodney Peete at quarterback--two guys who barely stand 6 feet--who will be throwing into the back of 6-foot-5 center Steve Everitt. Look for Coach Ray Rhodes to go with Bobby Hoying the first chance he gets. The Redskins kept their offense together and hired a new defensive coordinator, but it will take a Dallas and Philadelphia collapse to send Washington over the top.

Q: Speaking of Philly, does Ricky Watters really have that big of an ego?

A: Yes.

Q: So why doesn’t Philadelphia get rid of him?

A: Check out what has happened to San Francisco since his departure.

Q: After all the changes this year, who has the best chance for immediate improvement?

A: The Rams. Vermeil’s intensity alone will keep them charging, but more than that, if they get any kind of play from quarterback Tony Banks, look out. The Rams have stockpiled one of the most talented rosters in the league thanks to poor performances in the past and the opportunity to add quality draft picks. Running back Lawrence Phillips has been getting the big daddy routine from Vermeil, so he should stay out of jail for at least the next five months.

Q: What about Seattle? Don’t most people expect the Seahawks to be vastly improved this season?

A: Yes, along with Cincinnati. The Seahawks added a bunch of top-flight performers, but might still be a year away from challenging for division command. The Bengals came on strong after Bruce Coslet took over, and get the benefit of a division that might no longer be controlled by the Pittsburgh Steelers, who will be breaking in Kordell Stewart as their starting quarterback.

Q: Which team will look the most different?

A: Denver and Tampa Bay because of new uniforms, and Kansas City because it will make an attempt to have a passing game with Elvis Grbac at quarterback, Tony Gonzalez at tight end and Brett Perriman and Andre Rison at wide receiver. Buffalo too, because it will scrap the hurry-up offense and slow everything down with a power running game to make up for the retirement of Jim Kelly, and hide the fact that Hobert is now playing quarterback.

Q: Beyond the Dallas-San Francisco and Dallas-Green Bay games this season, what contests appear most intriguing?

A: Bill Parcells goes to New England with the intention of beating the Patriots in Week 3, Dan Reeves takes on John Elway for the first time in Week 5, and Ditka comes back to Chicago for the Bears’ final exhibition game and then again in Week 6.

Q: Who has the best chance to achieve overnight stardom?

A: Denver wide receiver Rod Smith, who replaces Anthony Miller.

Q: Which rookie has the best chance to make the most impact?

A: Carolina wide receiver Rae Carruth and Miami wide receiver Yatil Green. Both players have the ability to spark an offense the way New England rookie Terry Glenn did a year ago.

Q: Pick a longshot to make the playoffs as a wild card in the AFC and the NFC.

A: Houston and Detroit.

Q: Can something positive be said about Arizona?

A: There’s no talk of the Cardinals moving to Los Angeles.