NFL HUDDLE TELESCOPE

The first NFL training camps for the 2000 season open this week, which makes it a fine time not to have a team in Los Angeles.

No play-by-play of contract talks with third-round draft picks.

No fretting over twisted ankles that will be healed by Week 1.

No daily analysis of who’s winning the battle for nickel back or fifth receiver.

Instead, take the long view, and wait for the games to begin.

Here are five questions for the season ahead:

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1. Can the Washington Redskins buy a Super Bowl championship?

Boy-owner Daniel Snyder is going to try. But will Coach Norv Turner end up paying the price?

The Redskins’ summer of spending has brought them cornerback Deion Sanders, defensive end Bruce Smith, safety Mark Carrier and quarterback Jeff George. Washington also had two of the top three selections in the draft--Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington and Alabama offensive lineman Chris Samuels.

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2. Who will be this season’s Rams?

From 4-12 to Super Bowl champions? It’s hard to imagine another turnaround as spectacular as the one in St. Louis. But consider it an inspiration to such 8-8 teams as the Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens, the 6-10 Chicago Bears or the 5-11 Philadelphia Eagles.

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3. Can Keyshawn Johnson put a home team in the Super Bowl?

No team has played in the Super Bowl on its own field. But with the game at Raymond James Stadium and Johnson newly arrived from the Jets, it’s not farfetched to believe a Tampa Bay team that lost the NFC title game to the Rams could go one step further.

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4. Who will play quarterback for Miami and San Francisco?

Dan Marino and Steve Young have joined John Elway in retirement. Damon Huard has started five NFL games and Jay Fiedler has started one, but one of them will be the Dolphin quarterback. The 49ers’ Jeff Garcia has Giovanni Carmazzi, Rick Mirer and Tim Rattay for company.

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5. Who is included in the next wave of dominant coaches?

The Rams’ Dick Vermeil walked away a winner, and Bill Parcells, Jimmy Johnson and Mike Ditka are gone as well. That leaves Denver’s Mike Shanahan as the only coach who has won a Super Bowl with his current team. Who will rule the new generation? Tennessee’s Jeff Fisher? Jacksonville’s Tom Coughlin? Tampa Bay’s Tony Dungy? Any of them could win this season.

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A team-by-team update:

ARIZONA CARDINALS (6-10)

* Key losses: RB Adrian Murrell.

* Key additions: RB Thomas Jones, C Mike Gruttadauria, K Cary Blanchard. TE Chris Gedney.

* First-round pick: Jones (Virginia).

* The big question: How much will Jones help the anemic running game? And more important, can Jake Plummer rebound from an injury-marred season in which he finished with the league’s worst quarterback rating (50.8)?

ATLANTA FALCONS (5-11)

* Key losses: DE Chuck Smith, DE Lester Archambeau, C Robbie Tobeck, G Gene Williams.

* Key additions: CB Ashley Ambrose, WR Shawn Jefferson, DE Brady Smith, OT Travis Claridge, G Anthony Redmon, RB Ron Rivers.

* First-round pick: None.

* The big question: The 1998 NFC champions plunged to next-to-last in rushing after workhorse Jamal Anderson’s season-ending injury. Can he approach his NFL-record 410 carries of two seasons ago on a surgically repaired knee? Byron Hanspard and Rivers might have to help.

BALTIMORE RAVENS (8-8)

* Key losses: RB Errict Rhett, OT Everett Lindsay, CB DeRon Jenkins.

* Key additions: RB Jamal Lewis, TE Shannon Sharpe, DL Sam Adams, QB Trent Dilfer, WR Travis Taylor.

* First-round picks: Lewis (Tennessee), Taylor (Florida).

* The big question: A very big one was taken care of when the murder charge against linebacker Ray Lewis was dropped. Now the issue is whether first-round pick Jamal Lewis is as good as he looked before he was slowed by knee and other injuries at Tennessee.

BUFFALO BILLS (11-5)

* Key losses: DE Bruce Smith, RB Thurman Thomas, WR Andre Reed, FS Kurt Schulz, FB Sam Gash, LB Gabe Northern, CB Thomas Smith.

* Key additions: DE Erik Flowers.

* First-round pick: Flowers (Arizona State).

* The big question: The Super Bowl names are gone after a salary-cap purge, but the Bills have a bigger issue: Can quarterback Rob Johnson survive a full season?

CAROLINA PANTHERS (8-8)

* Key losses: LB Kevin Greene, LB Micheal Barrow.

* Key additions: DE Chuck Smith, LB Lee Woodall, CB Jimmy Hitchcock, RB Natrone Means, CB Rashard Anderson.

* First-round pick: Anderson (Jackson State).

* The big question: Only Kurt Warner had a better season than Steve Beuerlein, but the Panthers, with Means joining Tshimanga Biakabutuka, are weak at running back. The real question: Can Coach George Seifert’s overhaul of a 26th-ranked defense boost the Panthers into the playoffs?

CHICAGO BEARS (6-10)

* Key loss: WR Curtis Conway.

* Key additions: LB Brian Urlacher, DE Phillip Daniels, CB Thomas Smith, DT Chris Mims, S Shawn Wooden, WR Eddie Kennison.

* First-round pick: Urlacher (New Mexico).

* The big question: Shouldn’t the Bears score more than four rushing touchdowns? Curtis Enis had three. The Bears were No. 3 in passing and No. 26 in rushing. Yes, Cade McNown needs to keep progressing, but the running game has to help.

CINCINNATI BENGALS (4-12)

* Key loss: QB Jeff Blake.

* Key additions: WR Peter Warrick, DE Vaughn Booker, QB Scott Mitchell, DT Tom Barndt, S Darryl Williams, WR Ron Dugans.

* First-round pick: Warrick (Florida State).

* The big question: How long until receiver Carl Pickens officially becomes an ex-Bengal? And how many games will holdout running back Corey Dillon play in new Paul Brown Stadium? And is second-year quarterback Akili Smith ready to start?

CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-14)

* Key losses: OT Lomas Brown, DE John Thierry, CB Antonio Langham, CB Ryan McNeil.

* Key additions: DE Courtney Brown, DE Orpheus Roye, OT Roman Oben, DE Keith McKenzie, OL Everett Lindsay, RB Errict Rhett, S Percy Ellsworth, WR Dennis Northcutt.

* First-round pick: Brown (Penn State).

* The big question: Will No. 1 pick Brown and free agent Roye be enough to dig out a Cleveland defensive line that was last in the NFL in sacks and rushing defense?

DALLAS COWBOYS (8-8)

* Key losses: CB Deion Sanders, WR Michael Irvin, FB Daryl Johnston, LB Randall Godfrey, QB Jason Garrett.

* Key additions: WR Joey Galloway, CB Ryan McNeil, QB Randall Cunningham, LB Joe Bowden, LB Barron Wortham.

* First-round pick: None.

* The big question: Who will replace Sanders? McNeil was signed from Cleveland, and the Cowboys took cornerbacks in the second, third and sixth rounds, led by Dwayne Goodrich of Tennessee.

DENVER BRONCOS (6-10)

* Key losses: TE Shannon Sharpe, CB Dale Carter.

* Key additions: DE Lester Archambeau, DE Kavika Pittman, QB Gus Frerotte, CB Deltha O’Neal.

* First-round pick: O’Neal (California).

* The big question: Will Terrell Davis look like his old self after last year’s season-ending knee injury--and will the Broncos’ record recover along with him?

DETROIT LIONS (8-8)

* Key losses: FS Mark Carrier, QB Gus Frerotte.

* Key additions: RB James Stewart, FS Kurt Schulz, OT Stockar McDougle, QB Mike Tomczak, QB Stoney Case.

* First-round pick: McDougle (Oklahoma).

* The big question: It’s the broken bone in quarterback Charlie Batch’s knee, an injury suffered during an off-season practice in early June. If he isn’t ready, the Lions are looking at Tomczak, Case or perhaps Steve Stenstrom.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (8-8)

* Key losses: TE Mark Chmura, DE Keith McKenzie, DE Vaughn Booker.

* Key additions: TE Bubba Franks, DT Russell Maryland, QB Danny Wuerffel, DE John Thierry, LB Anthony Harris.

* First-round pick: Franks (Miami).

* The big question: Who exactly will Mike Sherman prove to be, besides the Packers’ third coach in three years?

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (13-3)

* Key losses: None.

* Key addition: LB Rob Morris.

* First-round pick: Morris (Brigham Young).

* The big question: The Big Three are set for years to come--Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James and Marvin Harrison. Does drafting six defensive players, led by Morris, begin to put the defense in place as well?

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (14-2)

* Key losses: RB James Stewart, OL Ben Coleman.

* Key addition: LB Hardy Nickerson.

* First-round pick: WR R. Jay Soward (USC).

* The big question: After only three losses last season--all of them to Tennessee-- shouldn’t the Jaguars spend training camp trying to find a way to beat the Titans?

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (9-7)

* Key losses: LB Derrick Thomas, RB Bam Morris, S Reggie Tongue, OT Glenn Parker, WR Joe Horn.

* Key additions: DE Duane Clemons, LB Lew Bush, WR Sylvester Morris, DT Steve Martin.

* First-round pick: Morris (Jackson State).

* The big question: Gary Stills and Bush must try to replace Thomas. No one will. A new worry: Offensive lineman Dave Szott might retire.

MIAMI DOLPHINS (9-7)

* Key losses: QB Dan Marino, TE Troy Drayton, G Kevin Gogan.

* Key additions: QB Jay Fiedler, RB Thurman Thomas, RB Lamar Smith. G Heath Irwin.

* First-round pick: None.

* The big question (and it couldn’t be bigger): Which NFL Europe veteran would you like? Damon Huard, who had five NFL starts when Marino was injured last season, or Fiedler, who has one NFL start but helped Jacksonville beat Miami, 62-7, in the playoffs?

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (10-6)

* Key losses: C Jeff Christy, DE Duane Clemons, G Randall McDaniel, QB Jeff George, QB Randall Cunningham, DE Chris Doleman, CB Jimmy Hitchcock, WR Jake Reed.

* Key additions: QB Bubby Brister, DT Chris Hovan, LB Bryce Paup.

* First-round pick: Hovan (Boston College).

The big question: Coach Dennis Green has made a huge bet on quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who was inactive in all but one game last season with George and Cunningham handling the job. It’s Culpepper’s position now, but is there any reason to think he can handle it?

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (8-8)

* Key losses: RB Terry Allen, OT Bruce Armstrong, OL Heath Irwin, TE Ben Coates, WR Shawn Jefferson, CB Steve Israel, OT Zefross Moss.

* Key additions: RB J.R. Redmond, RB Raymont Harris, CB Antonio Langham.

* First-round pick: None.

The big question: Allen, the team’s leading rusher, was released and three starters on the offensive line are gone. With the running game in a fix, can Redmond, a third-round pick from Arizona State, overtake Harris and Kevin Faulk?

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (3-13)

* Key losses: CB Ashley Ambrose, DE Brady Smith, DT Wayne Martin, WR Eddie Kennison.

* Key additions: QB Jeff Blake, DT Norman Hand, WR Jake Reed, LB Charlie Clemons, DE Darren Howard, CB Steve Israel, WR Joe Horn, TE Andrew Glover.

* First-round pick: None.

* The big question: Can the free-agent spree make up for what Ricky Williams hasn’t done? And can Williams, who missed time because of injuries and rushed for only 884 yards as a rookie after winning the Heisman Trophy, come up with a second act?

NEW YORK GIANTS (7-9)

* Key losses: OT Roman Oben, OT Scott Gragg, S Percy Ellsworth, QB Kent Graham, CB Phillippi Sparks.

* Key additions: LB Micheal Barrow, OT Lomas Brown, RB Ron Dayne, G Glenn Parker, C Dusty Zeigler, QB Jason Garrett.

* First-round pick: Dayne (Wisconsin).

* The big question: Can quarterback Kerry Collins keep his problems behind him and become the star many people imagined he would out of Penn State? And will Dayne, the Heisman winner, take care of the running game behind a revamped offensive line?

NEW YORK JETS (8-8)

* Key losses: WR Keyshawn Johnson, OT Jumbo Elliott, DT Anthony Pleasant, TE Eric Green.

Key additions: DE Shaun Ellis, LB John Abraham, QB Chad Pennington, TE Anthony Becht, DE Shane Burton.

* First-round picks: Ellis (Tennessee), Abraham (South Carolina), Pennington (Marshall), Becht (West Virginia).

* The big question: There’s no replacing Johnson, but Vinny Testaverde has to find a go-to receiver. Wayne Chrebet is a proven possession receiver, Dedric Ward has speed, and the draft brought in Coles from Florida State and Windrell Hayes from USC.

OAKLAND RAIDERS (8-8)

* Key losses: S Eric Turner, DT Russell Maryland, S Anthony Newman.

* Key additions: K Sebastian Janikowski, S Anthony Dorsett.

First-round pick: Janikowski (Florida State).

* The big question: The possibility of Janikowski, a Polish citizen, facing deportation because of legal scrapes has waned. But will the Raiders’ first-round gamble on a strong-legged kicker pay off? Oakland’s field-goal kicking last season was atrocious, and the eight losses were by an average of 4.3 points.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (5-11)

* Key losses: LB William Thomas, C Steve Everitt, FB Kevin Turner.

* Key additions: OT Jon Runyan, RB Brian Mitchell, DT Corey Simon, LB Carlos Emmons, FB Stanley Pritchett.

* First-round pick: Simon (Florida State).

* The big question: There’s plenty of excitement about Donovan McNabb, but the Eagles are looking for receivers. Neither Torrance Small nor Charles Johnson had 50 catches last season, and management hopes second-round pick Todd Pinkston from Southern Mississippi can catch on quickly.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (6-10)

* Key losses: DE Orpheus Roye, QB Mike Tomczak, LB Carlos Emmons, G Brendan Stai, DE Nolan Harrison.

* Key additions: WR Plaxico Burress, QB Kent Graham, DT Kimo von Oelhoffen, DE Chris Sullivan, G Rich Tylski, LB Gabe Northern.

* First-round pick: Burress (Michigan State).

* The big question: The perennial question mark--Kordell Stewart. Will Graham be throwing to Stewart before the season is over? Stewart had an abysmal quarterback rating of 64.9 last season and was benched and converted into a receiver, but Coach Bill Cowher is turning to him again.

ST. LOUIS RAMS (13-3)

* Key losses: OT Fred Miller, C Mike Gruttadauria, LB Charlie Clemons, DE Jay Williams, S Billy Jenkins.

* Key additions: C Steve Everitt, RB Derek Loville, RB Trung Canidate.

* First-round pick: Canidate (Arizona).

* The big question: There aren’t many. Former offensive coordinator Mike Martz has taken over for Vermeil. How good is the Rams’ position? Even if disaster strikes and Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner gets hurt, Trent Green is around to step in for his former backup. Warner expects a new deal to be done shortly; defensive end Kevin Carter is a possible holdout.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (8-8)

* Key losses: DE Norman Hand, RB Natrone Means, G Aaron Taylor, LB Lew Bush, CB Jimmy Spencer, CB Terrance Shaw.

* Key additions: WR Curtis Conway, CB DeRon Jenkins, RB Robert Chancey, OL Ben Coleman, OL Kevin Gogan.

First-round pick: None.

* The big question: Ryan Leaf has devolved to who-knows-who-cares status. But with Jim Harbaugh beginning his 14th season, backup quarterback Moses Moreno figures to play. If Leaf proves ready in body and in attitude, it will be a surprise.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-12)

* Key losses: QB Steve Young, LB Lee Woodall, S Tim McDonald, CB Darnell Walker.

* Key additions: LB Julian Peterson, CB Ahmed Plummer, QB Rick Mirer, QB Giovanni Carmazzi.

* First-round picks: Peterson (Michigan State), Plummer (Ohio State).

* The big question: Bill Walsh has had flattering things to say about Jeff Garcia, 2-8 last season as the starter after Young’s injury. Others are skeptical, and with Mirer on hand and third-round pick Carmazzi from Hofstra in the wings, there is a crowd waiting if he falters.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-7)

* Key losses: WR Joey Galloway, DT Sam Adams, DE Phillip Daniels, C Kevin Glover, G Brian Habib, LB Darrin Smith.

* Key additions: S Reggie Tongue, OL Robbie Tobeck, RB Shaun Alexander, OL Chris McIntosh.

* First-round picks: Alexander (Alabama), McIntosh (Wisconsin).

The big question: It’s hardly Green Bay, but will Coach Mike Holmgren’s team enjoy playing outside at Husky Stadium while a new football-only stadium is built? Off-season snag: Tobeck, a key free-agent signee who was expected to start on the offensive line, injured his knee and is expected to be sidelined at least the first six weeks of the season.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (11-5)

* Key losses: LB Hardy Nickerson, QB Trent Dilfer.

* Key additions: WR Keyshawn Johnson, C Jeff Christy, G Randall McDaniel.

* First-round pick: None.

* The big question: Can Johnson, quarterback Shaun King and the backfield tandem of Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott lift the offense to the level of a defense that is among the league’s best?

TENNESSEE TITANS (13-3)

* Key losses: OT Jon Runyan, DT Josh Evans, TE Jackie Harris, CB Steve Jackson, LB Barron Wortham.

* Key additions: LB Randall Godfrey, OT Fred Miller, LB Keith Bullock.

* First-round pick: Bullock (Syracuse).

* The big question: Will the Titans lure Reggie White out of retirement to make up for Evans’ drug suspension? Other than that, about all the Titans need to do is find one more yard somewhere.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS (10-6)

* Key loss: RB Brian Mitchell.

* Key additions: CB Deion Sanders, DE Bruce Smith, S Mark Carrier, LB LaVar Arrington, OT Chris Samuels, QB Jeff George.

* First-round picks: Arrington (Penn State), Samuels (Alabama).

* The big question: Will Smith and Sanders have enough left at 33 and 37 to help a defense that ranked next-to-last in the NFL?