Hurtling into Week 1 of a new NFL season, there might be no greater thrill for the football fan than to be prepared with the lowdown on the hottest storylines, names and trends. Certainly, you don't want to be caught spouting last year's conventional wisdom as you make this season's picks in the weekly office pool (for recreational purposes only, mind you).

Page 2's Hot 'n' Not list for NFL season
Category		Hot		Not
XFL-to-NFL success story		Tommy Maddox		"He Hate Me"
Barstool debate		What to do about the refs		'00 Ravens defense versus '85 Bears
Front-office guru		Ex-TV guy		Ultra-rich guy
Reason to follow the season		Your fantasy league		Inherent drama
Rallying cry		"Who needs an offense?!"		"We get no respect."
"Whatever happened to ...?"		Jake Plummer		Rick Mirer
Reason to get cut		Not telegenic enough		Salary-cap considerations
Reason for a coach to start a cornerback		Because I want to show how powerful I am		Because he's a beloved vet
Cool nickname		Snoop (Marvin Minnis)		Booger (Anthony McFarland)
Dud		Ryan Leaf as a free agent		Ryan Leaf as a Buc
Team's season-crushing injury		Torn ACL to star RB		Concussion to star QB
Brewing-controversy backup QB		Mike McMahon		Joe Germaine
Jersey to be seen in		Donovan McNabb		Keyshawn Johnson
Access to team		"All-"		"No-"
Super Bowl teams		Expected		Surprises
QB's role		Ride the defense's work		Air it out
Raiders receiver who matters		Tim Brown		Jerry Rice
Position		Roving linebacker		All-purpose running back
Sexy pick to be champ		Philadelphia		Tennessee
Rookie named Michael		Bennett		Vick
MVP bandwagon		Brian Griese		Randy Moss
Two words about a notable coach		Jon Gruden: Babyfaced assassin		Dick Vermeil: Tarnished legacy
Complaint about a stadium		Unbearable turf		Snowballs
Oddity		29-year-old rookie starting QB		Super-sized quarterbacks
Fantasy-junkie sleeper		Aaron Brooks		Matt Hasselbeck
Novel way to use your first-round fantasy pick		Marvin Harrison		Fred Taylor
Complaint in Cleveland		"What will we do without Courtney Brown?"		"Why are we drafting for defense ... again?"
Aging signal-caller		Doug Flutie		Kent Graham
Mike Shanahan's biggest problem		How to manage PR of starting Anderson over less-talented Davis		Pulling yet another 1,000-yard RB out of thin air
Go-to esoteric Dennis Miller reference		Anything Shakespeare		Anything related to Mexico
Subject of QB scrutiny		Brad Johnson		Jon Kitna
Record fans want to see broken		TDs in a season		Payton's career rushing yards