In the 21st century, we could all use the kind of media training provided for college football stars and NFL Draft hopefuls. Quick -- describe yourself in pithy, media-friendly sound bytes that will translate into lucrative business deals. Yeah, I couldn't do it either.

If all parents had their own personal NFL prep facility, the world would be a better place. Really.

Reggie Dunn is one of those fortunate people who has an exceptional gift, understands it and has embraced the mission to ride that gift to a dream.

Brandon O'Brien isn't your average NFL Draft hopeful. The 6'1", 218 lb wide receiver served two tours of duty in Iraq before deciding to dedicate his post-Marine Corps life to getting a shot at playing professional football.

2012 NFL Picks wrap up this week with a few nail-biters and several awkward, cringe-worthy matchups.

The conundrum in making game predictions for the NFL's Week 16 is that all of those normally reliable home underdog picks did not reward this football prognosticator in Week 15.

When making those water cooler Week 15 NFL Picks, consider the football youth explosion at quarterback.

After successfully predicting multiple underdog wins in Week 13, what were the two teams that ruined my otherwise stellar week? The favored Jets and Bears. Who knew that Rex Ryan would have the nerve to bench Mark Sanchez and sidestep the Tim Tebow quagmire?

Without trying to sound superstitious, some NFL favorites should tread softly, lest the upset demons bring them foul luck in Week 13. Those of us with pride on the line in the office pool must remember NFL picking rule No. 1: when in doubt, go with the underdog.

From the young guns on Thursday to the masters of quarterbacking on Sunday night, from Arrowhead to Lambeau to London -- Week 8 of the NFL season guarantees a few upsets fueled by desperation, injuries or misplaced complacence.

The Detroit Lions hope that they won't need fourth quarter heroics to win two in a row and narrow the gap between themselves and the division-leading Chicago Bears. They could be hoping in vain.

Forget a QB rating system based on math Stephen Hawking wouldn't understand. Forget ESPN's new "Total Quarterback Rating." How many quarterbacks strike such fear into a coach's heart that he would choose Bill Belichick's desperate fourth-and-two play over a punt?

Amidst surprising and never-to-be-seen-again jubilation that the NFL/Referee lockout is over, 32 football squads must still prepare for Week 4 of the NFL season.

The replacement officials are not morons; they simply lack the experience to work at the NFL level. Whether they knew what they were getting into by entering a labor dispute for a shot at working the "big leagues" is another discussion.

Entering NFL Week 3, the many rookie QBs have survived their professional intros, but a couple of teams (yes, you Dallas and New Orleans) are mysteriously inept -- making game predictions a dart-throwing endeavor.

Game Predictions for Week 2 of the NFL season promise to disappoint those whose teams soared to unexpected heights and to uplift fans of clubs that laid an opening weekend egg.

The San Francisco 49ers only missed the Super Bowl because Eli Manning is unflappable, the Seattle Seahawks had an offensive upheaval, the St. Louis Rams are struggling with new systems and the Arizona Cardinals need to at least pretend that they believe.

The Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions are working on a running game, the Chicago Bears suddenly have a legitimate offense and the Minnesota Vikings are just hoping to improve.

The New York Giants have a paper-thin secondary, the Dallas Cowboys have no healthy ball-catchers, while the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins have shiny new quarterbacks.

The Jaguars linebackers are especially impressive and MLB Paul Poslusnzy must be from Central Casting: Wanted -- blond Polish-American god with granite jaw, awesome shoulders

Chris Hale has a great personality, a million-dollar smile, and a wry sense of humor. He's 5'7" and, as he would tell you now, no one would mistake him for an NFL vet. But he is.

Playing for USC put me in contact with a few men who went on to play in the NFL and had to give up the game in their 20s and 30s. And they all, to a man, shared some kind of dip in their spirits.

A talented group of wide receivers made their presence felt throughout the league with a trade and some marquee signings designed to upgrade sluggish offenses. Let's look at some of the new wide receiver riches.