Don't look now but the Star Sports staff is at it again—sticking its proverbial neck out again and publishing its annual NFL predictions.

And what do you know, the only thing anyone agrees upon is that the Browns—or Dawgs as they are affectionately called in Cleveland—will take the AFC Central. Paws down.

The 49ers' No. 2 QB, Steve Young, will finally get the recognition he deserves when he replaces the soon-to-be injured Joe Montana early in the season and leads San Francisco to a division championship.

Unfortunately for the 49ers, they will not reach the Super Bowl. Philadelphia, behind defensive terror Reggie White and QB Randall Cunningham, will be the NFC representative.

The Vikings will take the NFC Central and the Bears and Washington will be mere Wild Cards.

In the AFC, look for Cleveland's Bernie Kosar to sidearm his team to the Super Bowl, though Elway & Co. will put up another good fight. The Miami Dolphins will stun everyone by getting to the AFC finals, but that's where their season will end.

Philadelphia will barely beat the Browns for their second Super Bowl when White sacks Kosar for a fourth-quarter safety.

First of all, Chicago will scrap its way to the top of the NFC Central by defeating teams during the final minutes of the game. Minnesota will come close, but settle for a Wild Card.

The New Orleans Saints will suprise the NFC West, and all of America can watch Tom Benson dance up and down the sideline spinning his umbrella to a New Orleans beat.

Unfortunately, the Redskins will take the honors in the East. However, someone will have to tell Dexter Manley to keep his nose clean. San Francisco will lose some close games during the season, but with a Wild Card, go on to capture the NFC title.

In the AFC, Cleveland will try not to fumble away another post-season after finishing first in the Central Division.

Seattle, will squeak ahead of Denver, a Wild Card.

The AFC East will witness a rising star, Cornelius Bennett, as the Buffalo Bills move to the top. By the way, does Jim Kelly look like he's too old to play football?

Cleveland will meet Seattle, win, and face the 49ers in the Superbowl. The NFL champion—the Cleveland Browns.

One last question, who are the other teams in the NFC Central?

Sorry, Mr. Regan, but the big bad Minnesota Vikings will unseat our beloved Bears in the NFC Central.

With the NFL's finest defense, a ground game that led the NFL in non-strike games last year and Anthony Carter catching passes, the Vikes will gladly take the eight automatic wins they get in the division. The Bears, with their six byes, will make excuses and settle for a Wild Card.

In the NFC West the 49ers have Jerry (Minute) Rice and Roger Craig. That's enough.

Out East, the Skins' Doug Williams will regain consciousness, realize that he's no better than your average Bob Avellini and lead his team to a Wild Card as the Giants win the division.

Bernie Kosar and his Browns will again win the AFC Central and again go about 14-2 and not get any national coverage.

The Broncos, who would go 0-16 without John Elway, will win the AFC West and division mates Oakl, er, Los Angeles and Seattle will follow with the Wild Things. Buffalo will win the most boring division, the AFC East.

Look for Minnesota to edge Cleveland in Super Yawn XXIII.

It must be football season again, as I almost got creamed by some sports information director in a hot red sports car. If I get reamed for my picks, may I never do this again.

Anyone who has enough will power to diet like "The Fridge" did (I'm jealous) deserves a ring, or a second ring for that matter. But it just won't be the same without No. 34.

Chicago, that's the ticket. Elway and McMahon battle to the death, Elway is buried.

The Redskins have plenty of talent coming in from last season, with Doug Williams and Jay Schroeder at the QB spots plus defense standouts Dave Butz and Charles Mann, for a NFC East title. I agree with my colleague, Dave, that the Vikings can't be held down in the Central division. Too many are comparing the ‘85 Bears to this year's squad. C'mon—get real. With Gault and Marshall gone and Otis out for the season, no chance.

The Saints may be young, but I think they're ready to capture a title. Of course I can't leave out the 49ers or the Giants as wild card possibilities, but neither will make it any further. As for the AFC, in the East, gotta go with the Colts. Eric Dickerson—what else do ya need. The Central, without a doubt will be dominated by the Browns. I know everyone is sick of Bernie Kosar, but he will get the job done. Broncos rule the West, but Cleveland will go all the way to Joe Robbie Stadium (uck), defeating the Redskins.

Four years ago, NIU graduate Dan Rosado tossed his dress shoes and briefcase into the closet and pulled out his spikes along with his dreams.

The 29-year-old Rosado, who was on the rise with a cushy corporate sales manager job at Pepsico, is now competing in the bump and grind with dozens of other San Diego Chargers' hopefuls in an NFL training camp.

It's not as though the former Huskie football player has been in spring training since he left Huskie Stadium his senior year in 1979.

On the contrary, when Rosado decided he was going to return to football in 1984, he referred to himself as the "250-pound martini-lunch-belly businessman" in an article written in the San Diego Union by NIU graduate T.J. Simers.

Despite his age, Rosado is slowly but surely turning a fairytale story into reality. Now benching 505 pounds, the strongest Chargers' player, Rosado has caught the eye of coach Al Saunders.

"If we had to make the cuts today," Saunders said in Simers' article, "he'd have a spot on this football team. That's how much he has improved."

Rosado received his urge to play ball again after watching a USFL game in 1984.

He decided he didn't want to be a "could've been," so he began intense training. Before he knew it, he was signed up with the Houston Gamblers as a guard.

Shortly after the season started, the USFL folded, but Rosado did not.

He signed with the Miami Dolphins, only to be one of the last people cut. Rosado was too set on getting into the NFL to go back to Pepsi, so he joined the list of 109 names on the training-camp roster for the Chargers.

"I know they are going to make this team up with people with a lot of tenacity that are smart and aggressive," Rosado said in the Simers' story, "and I'm that person. I'm one of those 47 who will make it."

If Rosado's chances banked on the success of his former teammates' post-college football careers, he'd have a lock on a spot on the Chargers' roster.

Among Rosado's peers from the offensive line who continued were Randy Clark, who played for the Chicago Bears in 1980 and then moved to the St. Louis Cardinals as a starting center in 1983; Jim Hannula, who left NIU as a first-team All-Mid America Conference tight end to play for the Cincinnati Bengals in 1981; and Max Gill, who went to the Detroit Lions as a free agent.

"(Rosado's class) was the best recruiting class I think we'd ever had," said former head coach Pat Culpepper. "They were outstanding rookie youngsters, good students, good leaders and they really pushed each other."

Mike Korcek, NIU sports information director, recalls when Culpepper referred to Rosado's offensive line as "The Force" in reference to the Star Wars movies popular at that time.

Culpepper said that while Rosado was a tough individual, he was a "special kind of kid."

"There was something different about Danny. He had a lot of pride, and he took pride in the way he dressed.

"I think that had something to do with his poor background. I think if (Rosado makes the Chargers), a lot of it will have to do with that pride."