Starting Point

It ended with John Elway riding off into the sunset, leaving the rest of the Denver Broncos behind.

It ended with Eugene Robinson wandering off into the streets of Miami, leaving his Atlanta Falcon teammates in the lurch.

It ended with NFL owners putting off a decision on Los Angeles, leaving this city right where it has been since Georgia Frontiere and Al Davis walked out the door--in limbo.

Fade out on the 1998 NFL season.

Fade in on NFL 1999.

This week it begins all over again with the start of the last training camps of the 1900s.

And it begins, as all seasons do, with more questions than answers. Here are 20 of the most interesting questions heading into training camp:

1. Can anyone, much less someone named Bubby, replace Elway?

On this Bronco team, the answer might be yes. Face it, in his successive Super Bowl-winning seasons, Elway had it easy compared to the earlier days when he was forced to carry the team on his strong right arm. Now, it’s a matter of putting the ball in Terrell Davis’ hands and letting the defense get a breather while still throwing well enough and often enough to keep opposing defensive backs in place. New starting quarterback Bubby Brister should be able to handle that.

2. Does Barry Sanders have an option play?

This should be an exciting time for the Detroit Lion running back. Sanders should be arriving at camp early to prepare for a season that could be history-making for him. He needs 1,457 rushing yards to break Walter Payton’s mark of 16,726. But to do that, Sanders first needs to suit up, and he has shown no inclination to do so. Sanders hasn’t even spoken to the Lions since last season. His agent, Lamont Smith, will say only that the issue of his client’s return to the team is complicated.

3. Can Mike Holmgren win with less talent?

We’ll find out in Seattle, where Holmgren has total control and billionaire Paul Allen’s bankroll. He will open camp with Jon Kitna at quarterback, rather than Brett Favre. But Holmgren will also have lowered expectations in assuming control of the Seahawks, a team that hasn’t made it into the postseason since 1988.

4. Can Ray Rhodes win with more talent?

We’ll find that out as well. There will be no excuses for Rhodes this year. He’s no longer mired in Philadelphia, trying to figure out ways to minimize quarterback Bobby Hoying’s deficiencies. Instead, Rhodes is in Green Bay, trying to figure out ways to maximize Favre’s strengths, which are, of course, considerable. But unlike Holmgren, Rhodes must face raised expectations. He doesn’t have to make major changes in training camp. He simply has to get back to the Super Bowl. Failure of the Packers to reach the big show for a second consecutive year will leave Rhodes a failure.

5. Can Al Davis finally find peace and contentment in Oakland?

No.

6. Can Davis find peace and contentment anywhere?

No.

7. Will Cade McNown be successful in Chicago?

Yes, with Erik Kramer gone, the Bears’ quarterback will be McNown, the 12th pick in the draft, unless he is completely overwhelmed in exhibitions. He won’t be. He won the starting job at UCLA as an 18-year-old freshman, making up for lack of experience, lack of height and lack of a powerful throwing arm with toughness, innovation and an ability to get the ball in the end zone. Chicago may be a tough town in which to succeed, but no tougher than L.A., where you can’t even park your car without drawing unwelcome attention. Of course, McNown has to sign a contract, which he hadn’t done as of Friday.

8. Can Atlanta return to the Super Bowl?

No, the Falcons played way over their heads and were lucky to have caught a break in the playoffs when the San Francisco 49ers’ Garrison Hearst broke his leg on the first play from scrimmage. The Falcons will be back in the pack this season, behind the Packers.

9. Has Ryan turned over a new leaf?

Unfortunately, the answer probably won’t come this season. Ryan Leaf, the second-year San Diego Charger quarterback who missed mini-camp and was charged with trashing a room in Montana, will have shoulder surgery next week and could be out for the season.

10. Can Lawrence Phillips find a job in the NFL?

The 49ers may be the latest to take a chance on him. Bad idea.

11. Will this be Bill Parcells’ last season?

Probably not. There is speculation that Parcells, with a Super Bowl contender in the New York Jets, will get there one more time and then retire to the Jersey shore. He has tried retirement before and gotten bored. True, he was suffering from fatigue at the end of last season and, true, assistant coach Bill Belichick is in position to take Parcells’ place. But, at age 58, Parcells will find it hard to let go of something he does so well.

12. Will the return of pro football to Cleveland be a success?

How could it not be? In a decade, people won’t even remember the Cleveland Browns didn’t exist for a few years. The only way Clevelanders wouldn’t support this team is if Art Modell came back as the owner.

13. Whatever happened to Terry Donahue?

He’s working in the 49er front office, but it’s going to be hard to be seen or appreciated while working in Bill Walsh’s shadow.

14. Whatever happened to George Seifert?

He’s clear of Walsh’s shadow, but now, after a stint at CBS, Seifert has bigger concerns. He returns to the sidelines as head coach of the Carolina Panthers, meaning he has gone from Steve Young at quarterback to Steve Beuerlein.

15. Will instant replay work this time?

Yes, but that won’t silence its critics. The first time there is a long delay or an unsatisfactory camera angle, there will be cries to ban it again. Instant replay will never be perfect, but a second and third look is better than no look at all.

16. How long will the Rams stick with Coach Dick Vermeil?

Not through this season if it goes like last year, when the Rams finished 4-12. A 62-year-old coach doesn’t have much time to prove he can relate to younger players. Time will run out for Vermeil soon after training camp unless his Rams get off to a good start.

17. How long will the Redskins stick with Coach Norv Turner?

Even less time. There are new owners in Washington trying to sell seats in a relatively new stadium. They won’t settle for last year’s 6-10 record. They got rid of General Manager Charley Casserly on Friday. Turner is probably the NFL coach least likely to survive.

18. Can Kordell Stewart remain the starting quarterback in Pittsburgh?

Stewart had a crying spell on the sidelines last season after being yanked by Bill Cowher. For this season, the Steeler coach has brought in Kevin Gilbride as offensive coordinator. Considering Gilbride’s performance as Charger head coach last season, it might be Cowher who is crying on the sidelines this season.

19. Who will be the league’s top rookie?

The New Orleans Saints have problems at quarterback and were last in the league in rushing yards per game last season with 83, but Ricky Williams is talented enough to overcome all that and amass at least 1,000 yards and probably a couple of hundred more.

20. Will L.A. finally get a team?

That’s the most important question for a city facing its fifth consecutive year without a training camp to watch. The long-awaited answer might not come until January after a long, bruising season behind closed doors for those hoping to prod the NFL into making a decision.

KEY DATES

TRAINING CAMPS, FIRST TEAM TO REPORT: Cleveland, July 21

FIRST EXHIBITION GAME: Aug. 7, Denver vs. San Diego, Sydney, Australia

FIRST NFL WEEKEND: Sunday, Sept. 12

FIRST MONDAY NIGHT GAME: Sept. 13, Miami vs. Denver, Channel 7, 6 p.m.

FIRST CLEVELAND GAME: Sept. 12, hosting Pittsburgh

NFC TITLE GAME REMATCH: Sept. 12, Minnesota at Atlanta

AFC TITLE GAME REMATCH: Oct. 3, N.Y. Jets at Denver

BIGGEST GRUDGE MATCH: Nov. 7, Baltimore at Cleveland (Note: Teams also play Sept. 26 at Baltimore)

SUPER BOWL: Jan. 30, Atlanta

*

Ryan Leaf will have shoulder surgery and could be out for the season. Page 9

Training Camp Schedule

Training camp reporting dates for NFL teams, with team, site and rookie and veteran reporting dates:

AFC

* BALTIMORE RAVENS--Western Maryland College, Westminster, Md., both July 28.

* BUFFALO BILLS--Fredonia State U., Fredonia, N.Y., both July 30.

* CINCINNATI BENGALS--Georgetown College, Georgetown, Ky., both July 30.

* CLEVELAND BROWNS--Cleveland Browns Training Camp, Berea, Ohio, July 21, July 24.

* DENVER BRONCOS--U. of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colo., both July 23.

* INDIANAPOLIS COLTS--Rose-Hulman Institute, Terre Haute, Ind., both July 22.

* JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS--Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla., both July 29.

* KANSAS CITY CHIEFS--U. of Wisconsin River Falls, July 27, July 30.

* MIAMI DOLPHINS--Nova U., Davie, Fla., July 27, July 30.

* NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS--Bryant College, Smithfield, R.I., both July 30.

* NEW YORK JETS--Hofstra U., Hempstead, N.Y., both July 30.

* OAKLAND RAIDERS--Napa Valley Marriott, Napa, Calif., both July 23.

* PITTSBURGH STEELERS--St. Vincent College, Latrobe, Pa., July 29, July 31.

* SAN DIEGO CHARGERS--UC San Diego, both July 22.

* SEATTLE SEAHAWKS--Eastern Washington U., Cheney, Wash., July 29, July 30.

* TENNESSEE TITANS--Bellevue Practice Facility, Nashville, July 27, July 31.

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NFC

* ARIZONA CARDINALS--Northern Arizona U., Flagstaff, July 29, July 30.

* ATLANTA FALCONS--Furman U., Greenville, S.C., both July 28.

* CAROLINA PANTHERS--Wofford College, Spartanburg, S.C., July 26, July 29.

* CHICAGO BEARS--U. of Wisconsin Platteville, both July 22.

* DALLAS COWBOYS--Midwestern State U., Wichita Falls, Texas, July 26, July 29.

* DETROIT LIONS--Saginaw Valley State U., Saginaw, Mich., July 25, July 29.

* GREEN BAY PACKERS--St. Norbert College, DePere, Wis., July 25, July 29.

* MINNESOTA VIKINGS--U. of Minnesota Mankato, both Aug. 1.

* NEW ORLEANS SAINTS--U. of Wisconsin La Crosse, both July 28.

* NEW YORK GIANTS--U. of Albany, both July 29.

* PHILADELPHIA EAGLES--Lehigh U., Bethlehem, Pa., July 25, July 28.

* ST. LOUIS RAMS--Western Illinois U., Macomb, Ill., both July 22.

* SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS--U. of the Pacific, Stockton, Calif., July 26, July 29.

* TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS--U. of Tampa, both Aug. 1.

* WASHINGTON REDSKINS--Frostburg State U., Frostburg, Md., July 25, July 28.