Offseason storylines: Here come Vick, Brady, L.T. ...

As I walked out onto the Raymond James Stadium field late Sunday night, my shoes picking up pieces of confetti as I strolled out to do some post-game video work, my mind raced ahead.

The 2008 NFL season concluded moments before with arguably the greatest Super Bowl of all time, a game won 27-23 in the final minute by the Steelers over the Cardinals. But I somehow was thinking about next season, trying to picture the two teams that might be in the game next February in Miami.

How much game has Michael Vick lost the past two years and where will he be displaying it? (Getty Images)

Here we are just under six months away from the start of training camp and eight months away from the open of the regular season, and all we can do is act like the 31 teams that didn't win it this season, which is to think ahead to 2009.

Before we get there, a lot of things must be sorted out. We have free agency. We have the draft. We have rules changes coming. We have -- as much as we hate to admit it -- a long offseason.

There will be a lot of news and issues in the coming months. Here are 10 that are sure to grab your attention:

Mike Vick's return to the NFL

Vick is expected to be free from his legal obligations by July at the latest. His sentence for his involvement in the dog fighting ring should be concluded by then, but it's up to the league to decide if he can return to the game.

I say he should be allowed to play.

How can they keep him out? A man has a right to make a living. He served his time, right?

The only thing is to find an owner bold enough to sell Vick to his fans. We keep hearing the Raiders, but they have JaMarcus Russell playing quarterback. So who takes the chance? Does anybody?

The Falcons still own his rights, but he isn't coming within 100 miles of that team's facility. They want no part of him. Not after what he put them through.

What some people are forgetting is just being released doesn't mean he's back. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will have to reinstate him. Then there's his conditioning. What will a year away mean to his game? It's not like he got much of a challenge from the prison-yard game.

I guarantee you somebody will take a chance on Vick. Here's hoping he's a changed man if they do. Prison can do that.

Does Kurt Warner play again?

The Cardinals front office expects that Kurt Warner will play again. For how much is the question.

Warner would not say if he planned to play after Sunday's game, but the word is he's leaning toward coming back.

The Cardinals would like to give him a two-year deal in the $18 million range. Warner is said to want to stay, but what if he wants to test the market? Do the Cardinals put the franchise tag on him?

I think both sides will come to the smart conclusion and Warner will sign a contract extension for two seasons.

Arizona will be good again, and he likes his teammates, something he preached on the podium after the Super Bowl.

Albert Haynesworth, prize of the free-agent class

Albert Haynesworth is about to get very rich. (Getty Images)

Albert Haynesworth has told some that he prefers to stay in the south, no matter who he plays with.

The Tennessee Titans would love to have him back, but they can't use the franchise tag on him again because of incentives he reached in 2008.

As the best defensive tackle in the game, Haynesworth might become the first $100 million defensive player. Are the Titans willing to spend that kind of money? Is anybody in this economy?

I look for Haynesworth to shop his services and then re-sign with the Titans.

The issue with him is whether he will be the same player once he gets the money. I say he will be. That's because I think he's matured. The Haynesworth of three years ago would have been a major risk.

This one won't take the money and run. He'll take the money and stop the run.

Will Tom Brady be healthy enough to start on opening day?

Indications are Tom Brady is making good progress in his return from major knee surgery, following a season-ending injury on opening day last September.

There were complications early in Brady's recovery, but he has picked up the pace, and the Patriots have to be thinking he will be there on opening day.

To protect themselves, they are expected to put the franchise tag on Matt Cassel, who played so well in place of Brady in 2008. If Brady's recovery includes more problems, Cassel would be kept. If not, the Pats could trade him.

I expect Brady will be the opening-day starter for the Pats next September.

Does the economy have an impact on the NFL?

In talking to league officials, there is real concern. Most of the tickets were sold last year before the economy went really bad.

Many of the league's top sponsors are also having financial issues that will be felt. The NFL has to hope that the summer brings a brighter economic future or even it will face troubles ahead.

Will Brett Favre play again? Should he? Does anyone care?

Can we all stomach another offseason of Brett Favre drama? (Getty Images)

I say no. Brett Favre supposedly had to be cajoled by family members to play last season, and it didn't go that well.

He's not the same player he once was -- not even close.

The Jets need to move on without him. One thing's for certain: They won't wait until the summer for him to make his decision. New coach Rex Ryan needs to know what Favre will do before free agency starts. Favre needs to give him that much.

I think Favre decides to hang it up. It's tractor time, as it was last summer. He just didn't listen to his body -- or those of us who thought he was finished.

Is the NFL going to change the overtime rules?

We've heard so much complaining this season that I think there is support to change the way the league does overtime. To what, who knows?

But Goodell is open to the idea of change. You can bet the competition committee will discuss possible changes when it meets in early March and then presents those findings to the league's membership at the spring meetings in California later in the month.

I hope the overtime rules don't change. Why? If defense can win championships, why can't it win in overtime?

How does the L.T. saga play out in San Diego?

That one could get ugly. There is definitely some nastiness between LaDainian Tomlinson and general manager A.J. Smith, who crossed the line when he mocked L.T.'s statement about returning to the team.

That was low. L.T. was said to be bitter about it.

The Chargers might ask Tomlinson to take a pay cut after his disappointing season. At 30, he doesn't have the same burst and injuries have limited him in the playoffs the past two seasons.

He has three years left on his contract. He is scheduled to make $6.725 million in salary this season and has a cap number of $8.79 million. The Chargers are trying to extend quarterback Philip Rivers and linebacker Shawne Merriman to long-term deals. That's why L.T. might be asked to take a cut.

Could the Chargers actually do the unthinkable and cut the face of the franchise? I doubt it. But if he's unreasonable, could you blame them?

Will Terrell Owens be back playing for the Cowboys?

Yes. Why not? It isn't like the Cowboys have so many other options at receiver. How did that Roy Williams trade work out last season?

Owens is still their best receiver. And despite his antics -- and they can get annoying -- the Cowboys need him. When you need a player, you put up with the garbage that comes with him.

Owens isn't as good as he was a few years ago, and certainly isn't as good as he thinks he is, but the Cowboys need him -- even if he is a big pain in the ass.