Hey there, gents.  About a year ago, I wrote a piece discussing who I thought were the most overrated and underrated players in the NFL.  Now, I'm fixing to tweak that approach a little.  I'm going to discuss which players will rise to stardom this season, and which ones are in decline.  I'll also throw in the veterans I think will stage comebacks, and those I think will be soon be put out to pasture.  Enjoy, and let me know your thoughts.

TOP TEN RISING STARS

10. Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons - Last season, White had his coming-out party, quickly becoming Matt Ryan's new bestest buddy.  He finished the year with 88 receptions for 1,382 yards and 7 touchdowns, having played all 16 games and starting 15 of them.  With his QB no longer a rookie, and thus having more savvy and carrying more swagger, White should only improve from here.

9. Stewart Bradley, MLB, Philadelphia Eagles - His star's been on the rise for a couple years now, but more slowly than others.  He is quickly entering the category of "most underrated players," and this is the year he should step up and claim a place as one of the better middle linebackers in the game.  It's his raw tackling ability that will propel him to the upper echelon this year.  Last year, he tallied 108 tackles, of which an amazing 86 were solo.  He did a good job of directing the defense last year, and with Dawk gone, he'll have the opportunity to become a team leader.

8. Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City Chiefs - Bowe followed up an impressive rookie season with an even more impressive sophomore effort; even with lousy quarterbacking he still managed 86 receptions for 1,022 yards and 7 touchdowns.  Now that Matt Cassel, the former savior of New England, is lining up under center in KC, I expect Dwayne to be mentioned for Pro Bowl consideration.

7. Darren Sproles, RB, San Diego Chargers - Sproles is quickly becoming a Westbrook-like threat in the Bolts' offense, as a speedy and elusive rusher and a fluid, crafty receiver.  He's another one of the "new" mold of versatile running backs, and he was an excellent complement to LaDainian Tomlinson last season.

6. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Arizona Cardinals - As a rookie in 2008, Rodgers-Cromartie proved he can hang with the big boys.  He started an impressive 11 games, tallying 42 tackles (38 solo), and 4 interceptions, one of which he returned 99 yards for a score.  It won't be long before we hear Pro Bowl talk surrounding this guy.

5. Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta Falcons - The Falcons have found a terrific complement to their newfound aerial assault.  Entering his sixth year in the league, Turner finally had his breakout year in 2008 after spending 4 seasons playing in the shadow of LaDainian Tomlinson.  He had 376 attempts for 1,699 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns en route to becoming one of the year's top rushers...if all goes well, he should have more success.

4. Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens - I rooted for Joe Flacco (except when he played us), because he's a South Jersey boy like me.  For the first time since anyone can remember, it looks as though B-More finally has a legitimate QB to work with.  Starting all 16 games in his rookie campaign, Flacco finished with 2,971 passing yards and 14 touchdowns (though he did throw 12 interceptions).  He completed 60 percent of his passes as well, and everyone's looking to him to lead Baltimore back to the Super Bowl.

3. Matt Cassel, QB, Kansas City Chiefs - It's not easy being the backup to one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.  But Matt made the most of his opportunity to shine when Brady went down early last season.  Matt led the Pats, left for dead after the fateful injury to their star QB, back into the playoffs.  He finished the year with a 63.4 completion percentage, 3,693 passing yards, and 21 touchdowns.  He's the man now in KC, and the Sea of Red at Arrowhead has to be feeling mighty good about things.

2. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions - What a beast this guy is.  After a good, but not great, rookie performance that was hampered by injuries, Johnson came roaring back in 2008 to rack up 78 receptions for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns.  He has unbelievable size and speed, and has made amazing catches up and over his opponents.  He has a rookie QB to treat with in Matt Stafford, but the newbie couldn't ask for a better target to help him adjust to life in the NFL.

1. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons - Born in Exton, PA, and schooled at William Penn Charter in Philly, Matt Ryan is looking very, very promising.  In his rookie year, he threw for 3,440 yards and 16 touchdowns while starting all 16 games...never an easy thing to do, especially in his case, as he took over in the wake of the sordid Michael Vick saga.  He seems to have the complete package: poise, patience, accuracy, arm strength, and good field vision.  He's left Atlanta fans drooling for more, and I have a feeling more is what they'll get.

TOP TEN FALLING STARS

10. Jason Campbell, QB, Washington Redskins - It's not that Jason isn't a good athlete; he is, but he simply hasn't proven to be the answer under center for D.C.  Last year, he had okay numbers (3,245 yards for 62.3 percent), but he threw for a paltry 13 touchdowns, and when you play in the toughest division in pro football, that won't get you anywhere.  There was talk before the draft of the Skins possibly letting Campbell go and trading up in favor of Mark Sanchez, which proved false, but still, there is talk that if Campbell can't deliver, he'll be out of a job sooner than he thinks.

9. Antonio Pierce, MLB, New York Giants - Pierce isn't exactly a favorite of ours here at BGN, but that isn't the reason why he's listed here.  The last anyone heard of him, he was eating Brian Westbrook's dust en route to a crushing playoff loss at home to your very own Philadelphia Eagles.  Before that, he was under investigation for obstruction of justice in the Plaxico Burress debacle.  Whattaguy.  His play declined last season, possibly owing to his increasingly portly physique, and he ain't getting any younger, either.  New York will be looking for a new middle linebacker after this season, mark my words.

8. Cadillac Williams, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Once thought to be a future perennial Pro-Bowler after his stellar rookie performance in 2005, Carnell "Cadillac" Williams has since failed to rush for 1,000 yards and cannot seem to stay healthy, forcing his team to rely on the pass.  At lot has changed in Tampa, though...they fired Jon Gruden, drafted Josh Freeman as their QB of the future, and brought Derrick Ward aboard, presumably as their new starter at RB.  Cadillac may find himself cut following training camp.

7. Nate Clements, CB, San Francisco 49ers - Clements was brought to San Fran from Buffalo in 2007, signing a huge contract to be the cornerstone of the Niners' pass defense.  It hasn't panned out.  He has just 6 interceptions in two seasons with the Niners, and he's getting past the prime of his career.

6. Jake Delhomme, QB, Carolina Panthers - I know, I know, he had a good season in 2008.  Still, he is in his mid-thirties (he'll turn 35 in January), and his TD-to-INT rating has slipped.  I'm just not sure that at his age he can keep up with the other terrific QBs in his division (Brees in New Orleans, Ryan in Atlanta).

5. Reggie Bush, RB, New Orleans Saints - He's still very young, but Reggie is quickly learning that he can't pull the same razzle-dazzle stuff in the pros as he did in college.  He had only 404 rushing yards last year and a measly 2 touchdowns...he'll need to pull his game together right quick, or the talk of draft bust will start to circulate.

4. Carson Palmer, QB, Cincinnati Bengals - It's very simple; either he stays healthy for a whole season, or Cincy is shopping for a new QB come April.  When he's healthy, he's great.  But he's no good to anyone on the sidelines.

3. Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle Seahawks - Matt played in only seven games last season, and the injuries have started to pile up, which denotes his advancing age (he'll turn 34 in September).  Talk of drafting Mark Sanchez was rampant, but the Hawks elected to go elsewhere, so Hasselbeck is still the man.  But he needs to stay healthy and lead his team back to prominence, or else.

2. Terrell Owens, WR, Buffalo Bills - If T.O. thought Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, and Tony Romo were bad, wait'll he gets a load of Trent Edwards and J.P. Losman.  They basically sent him here to die.  Good night, T.O.  And a flight of demons sing thee to thy doom.

1. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers - In this league, running backs, even feature backs, don't last long past 30.  LaDainian, who is a surefire HOFer and one of the best, most consistent backs in recent memory, is on the downslope of his career.  He has never, I repeat, NEVER rushed for less than 1,000 yards in his career, but his total of 1,110 yards in 2008 was a career low for him.  The injuries are piling up, and it remains to be seen how much longer he'll play at an elite level.

TOP FIVE PROJECTED COMEBACK PLAYERS

5. Shawn Andrews, OT, Philadelphia Eagles

4. Chad Johnson, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

3. Osi Umenyiora, DE, New York Giants

2. Shawne Merriman, LB, San Diego Chargers

1. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

TOP FIVE OUT-TO-PASTURE PLAYERS

5. Tedy Bruschi, LB, New England Patriots

4. Jeff Garcia, QB, Oakland Raiders

3. Rodney Harrison, SS, New England Patriots (UFA)

2. Derrick Brooks, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (UFA)

1. Marvin Harrison, WR, Indianapolis Colts (UFA)