Who are the award winners and top teams at the quarter mark of the season?

Mark Malone

MVP: Tom Brady, QB, New England He is a big-time quarterback. He's accurate, makes great decisions and doesn't turn the ball over. Brady is one of the league's top passers, and I expect continued success throughout the season. Rich Gannon has been solid for Oakland as well, but New England doesn't have the running game that the Raiders have. Brady has proven he can make things happen. With the addition of Deion Branch and two tight ends (Daniel Graham and Christian Fauria), he has plenty of weapons.

Joe Theismann

Super Bowl prediction: Raiders over Eagles I give Oakland an edge in the running game. Philadelphia likes to bring pressure. The Eagles would take their two good cornerbacks, Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent, and put them on Jerry Rice and Tim Brown. And then they would have Al Harris on Jerry Porter, who has a size advantage. Charlie Garner would be able to break some big runs. Other than the Raiders' given stars, I like their alternative people.

Mark Schlereth

Top rookie: NFC -- LeCharles Bentley, RG, New Orleans; AFC -- Randy McMichael, TE, Miami Bentley has come in and solidified a Saints offensive line that was a question mark before the season began because it lost Willie Roaf, one of the game's greatest left tackles, and had to move Kyle Turley from right tackle to the left side. Bentley has run-blocked and pass-protected effectively, which is tough against the NFL's complex coverages and schemes. McMichael has established himself as an upper-echelon, top-notch, receiving tight end. In Norv Turner's offense, the tight end position is a premium. McMichael has been able to get down the seam, stretch the defenses and catch the inside passes. And his run-blocking ability has been impressive. He has done a great job and has been an unsung hero for the Dolphins' offense.

Sean Salisbury

Top coach: Tom Coughlin, Jacksonville There are a few coaches to consider: Marty Schottenheimer in San Diego, Dick Vermeil in Kansas City and Gregg Williams in Buffalo, even though both the Chiefs and the Bills have lost two games each. But Coughlin has made the most of nothing in the first quarter. No one expected Jacksonville to win six games this year. For a while, some people thought maybe Coughlin had lost the team. But Coughlin has his players believing in themselves. The Jaguars are playing great, efficient football.

Andrea Kremer

Comeback player: Robert Edwards, RB, Miami Even though Rodney Peete gets my "rising from the ashes" vote, here is a man who they thought might have to have his leg amputated after his gruesome injury following the 1998 season. He feverishly worked himself back and never lost faith that he would return. He not only made the Dolphins' roster, but he has also served as a change-of-pace back for Ricky Williams.

Merril Hoge

Disappointing player: Eddie George, RB, Tennessee The way he prepared and trained going into the season, George was supposed to be back to normal. I'm shocked he hasn't played at another level. He is averaging only 2.7 yards a carry. People point to his slow starts in the past, but I'm not seeing anything from him. In fact, he looks a little slow in his decision process. I don't know if the beatings have taken their toll. Maybe they have.

Mike Golic

Team living on borrowed time: Carolina Panthers They are playing well, especially their defense, which is ranked No. 1 in the NFL. The Panthers are not a fluke. But I don't know if they can sustain it for the entire season. If they get nicked up, they don't have great depth. Their starters are playing well, but as the season wears on, depth could be an issue for them. If they lose key people to injuries for a week or two, they could fall into a hole.