Is This Finally LaDainian Tomlinson’s Year? Will He Lead the Chargers to Arizona? Check Out ESPN The Magazine’s Biggest Football Preview Ever!

Plus: Virginia Tech Marches On and a Yankees Team You Can Like

NFL PREVIEW 2007:

YA GOTTA HAVE FAITH.  NFL players spend the entire off-season looking forward to September.  Then, poof! A star QB gets indicted, a marquee CT blows out his knee and a hot, young coach lands in the hospital during training camp.  Well, nobody said winning the Super Bowl was easy – getting there is just as tough.  Ask LaDainian Tomlinson, who’s trusting his my-way-is-the-only-way GM to take him all the way to Arizona.  Seth Wickersham reports. 

DO IT THIS WAY! NO, THIS WAY!  Come September, Peyton and Eli Manning are out for themselves (and their teams).  But at their summer QB camp, they share all they know about the position. Which is a lot.  David Fleming reports. 

THE BIG NUMBER CRUNCH.  The enlightened stat freaks at Football Outsiders open their playbook for eye-popping insights on all 32 NFL teams.  Plus, the Bristol gang lay their preseason picks on the line.  The Magazine staff reports.

PREP STARS.  What do bricks, brooms and bamboo swords have to do with prepping for the season? Let Maurice Jones-Drew, Aaron Kampman and four other NFL stars show you how they work.  Luke Cyphers reports.

ON THE PROWL.  Orphaned at a tender age by a shifty franchise, two brothers tour NFL training camps in their search for a new favorite team.  Raiders need not apply.  Andy and Brian Kamenetzky report.

RUN FOR THE SUN.  Which teams will shine and which will wilt on the way to Arizona?  The Magazine’s panel of scouts, ex teammates and film room junkies have the answers.

OTHER FEATURES:

THE BRONX IS TURNING.  GM Brian Cashman fought to keep top prospects Robinson Cano, Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera and Joba Chamberlain. Now that this river of home grown talent flows through the Bronx, the future could be now for the Yankees.  Buster Olney reports. 

330 STRONG.  The Marching Virginians lost one of their own in the Virginia Tech shootings in April.  As they came together in August for the first time since the tragedy, there was a whole lot of healing to do.  And horns to play.  Steve Wulf reports. 

JOE DIRT.  J.J. Putz took his time becoming one the game’s best closers.  Now he’s one big reason why Seattle is in the hunt for October.  Luke Cyphers reports.

DREAM OF THE DOOMED.  Who are we to tell the North Texas Mean Green that they have no hope of beating the Oklahoma Sooners?  Doesn’t matter, they’re not listening anyway.  David Fleming reports. 

THE NEXT BEST THING.  On the verge of stardom, 18-year-old Jeffrey Earnhardt returns to the dusty Virginia bullring that launched his racing career.  Marty Smith reports. 

ESPN THE MAGAZINE COVERS ARE AVAILABLE VIA AP PHOTOEXPRESS and WWW.BUSINESSWIRE.COM

- ESPNMagazine07 -