Mark Curnutte

This year marks the latest training camps have opened.

And the Super Bowl, scheduled for Feb. 6 in Jacksonville, is the latest scheduled.

It will be only the second Super Bowl played in February and the first scheduled for that month.

Super Bowl XXXVI was played Feb. 3, 2002 in New Orleans - New England won 20-17 against St. Louis - because the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 pushed back the season and the playoffs.

The game originally was schedule for Jan. 27.

By the way, the earliest Super Bowl was played Jan. 9, 1977, with Oakland defeating Minnesota 32-14 at the Rose Bowl.

BY GEORGE: Eddie George is now a member of the Dallas Cowboys.

Cut by Tennessee, George shares some historic marks with the game's all-time greats.

George and Jim Brown are the only backs to reach 10,000 rushing yards without missing a game because of injury.

George's streak of 128 consecutive regular-season starts is second among running backs to Walter Payton's 170.

George, since joining the Oilers-Titans franchise in 1996, had 69.2 percent of the team's rushing attempts.

PURPLE REIGN: In 2003, the Minnesota Vikings lost to all four teams that finished with 4-12 records but defeated Super Bowl-winning coaches Mike Shanahan, Dick Vermeil and Mike Holmgren.

The Vikings also have lost 18 consecutive games on natural grass.

URLACHER SAYS: Here are some tidbits from Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher.

On training in Lake Tahoe: "You hear about all the world-class athletes doing it, so I figured, 'Why can't I do it?' The first couple of days, I couldn't breathe. I did a body fat (check) before I left Chicago. I wanted to get an idea of where I would be when I got done. I was 256 (pounds) and 6.9 (percent) body fat. I went back two weeks after I came here and I was 255 and 5.2 body fat. Two weeks."

On the upcoming season: "I don't usually set personal goals, but this year I'm setting one: I want to be Defensive Player of the Year. First, though, come the playoffs and the Super Bowl."

On Brett Favre: "Favre is the best quarterback ever. The best one I've played against. After playing against him eight times now, he drives me nuts. I beat him the first time, 0-7 since."

RAM TOUGH: Oregon State running back Steven Jackson thought he might go to Detroit in the first round of the draft.

If not the Lions, then perhaps Dallas or Denver. But when Jackson remained available as their No. 26 overall pick approached, the Rams pounced: They traded up two spots with the Bengals and grabbed the 233-pound Jackson with the 24th selection.

Rams coach Mike Martz said he was "dumbfounded" that Jackson, the first running back taken, was still on the board.

And if Marshall Faulk's balky knees flare up, Jackson could find himself in a spot he did not anticipate - at least, not so soon: as the team's No. 1 back.

Still, Jackson remains unsigned.

RAVENS: The major role played by former Giants coach Jim Fassel as Ravens special assistant this past offseason was to correct the mechanics of Kyle Boller's throwing motion.

As a rookie quarterback in 2003, Boller threw nine interceptions in 224 attempts and had the second-worst passer rating (62.4) and completion percentage (51.8) among NFL starters.

BROWNS: John Collins, the new president and CEO, has said his perception is that Cleveland fans are not connecting with the Browns. Wonder why?

Since they were reborn in 1999 as an expansion team, the Browns have had four losing seasons in five years and an overall record of 26-55. That .321 winning percentage over five years ranks fifth among nine NFL expansion teams since 1960.

(In their first five seasons, 1968-72, the Bengals were 27-42-1 and once made the playoffs. It was an era without the possibilities and hindrances of free agency.)

STEELERS: Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau is installing his zone-blitz defense in Pittsburgh in his second go-round. He doesn't appear to have the talent at his disposal that he did in the mid-1990s.

Much of the success of the Steelers' defense this season will depend on Clark Haggans, who replaces Jason Gildon. Gildon, the franchise sacks leader with 77, was released as a June 1 salary cap casualty. He later signed with Buffalo, spurning an offer from the Bengals.

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Written from notes submitted by NFL beat writers. Mark Curnutte will discuss the upcoming Bengals season on WCPO's (Channel 9) "Sports of All Sorts" at 11:30 p.m. today.

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