Capsules for the 32 NFL teams as they begin the 2010 season, in predicted order of finish:
AFC EAST
New England Patriots
Few teams seem on the surface to have as many givens as the Patriots. We know Tom Brady is an all-world quarterback and winner; that Randy Moss is as dangerous as any receiver and Wes Welker as reliable as any; that the offensive line is a stone wall; that the defense will be stingy and make big plays; and that Bill Belichick is a coaching genius.

Today is Tuesday, Sept. 7, the 250th day of 2010. There are 115 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On Sept. 7, 1940, Nazi Germany began its eight-month blitz of Britain during World War II with the first air attack on London.
On this date:

A combative President Barack Obama rolled out a long-term jobs program Monday that would exceed $50 billion to rebuild roads, railways and runways, and coupled it with a blunt campaign-season assault on Republicans for causing Americans’ hard economic times.
GOP leaders instantly assailed Obama’s proposal as an ineffective one that would simply raise already excessive federal spending. Many congressional Democrats are also likely to be reluctant to boost expenditures and increase federal deficits just weeks before elections that will determine control of Congress.

Tony Stewart went to Atlanta Motor Speedway mired in a 31-race winless streak and an afterthought, at best, on the list of championship contenders.
By the time he left the track early Monday morning he may very well have become the front-runner for the Sprint Cup Series title.
The streakiest driver in NASCAR knocked down his first win of the season late Sunday night with a dominating performance at Atlanta, and based on Stewart’s own track record, he’s got to be considered a credible contender. When Smoke gets hot — and he …

Even Roger Federer had to say he was sorry for the way he won the pivotal second-set tie-breaker over pal Jurgen Melzer and advanced to the US Open quarter-finals on Monday.
The Swiss second seed won two points off forehands that hit the net cord and dropped over the net in a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 triumph over Austrian 13th seed Melzer that put the 16-time Grand Slam champion into the quarter-finals.
“You couldn’t be more lucky in a tie-breaker than he was in this tie-breaker,” Melzer said.

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LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – More than a half-century ago, the Cat in the Hat was on a mission.
Challenged to create a figure that would make children more interested in reading, Dr. Seuss came up with an engaging feline with a red- and white-striped top hat. With his anarchic style and penchant for adventure, the Cat in the Hat led several generations of youngsters to appreciate the written word.
Now the ever-smiling creature has been reprogrammed to interest young children in science. But is it possible to teach an old cat …

The Carolina Panthers entered training camp with the NFL’s third-youngest roster. Then in final cuts they kept most of the youngsters.
The Panthers trimmed 22 players to get to the 53-man limit on Saturday, but found room to keep nine of 10 draft picks. They waived veteran defensive tackle Tank Tyler in favor of undrafted rookie Andre Neblett, and sent Kenny Moore packing in favor of three rookie receivers, including David Gettis.
Even second-year quarterback Hunter Cantwell was waived, giving the third-string job to rookie Tony Pike.

Tropical Storm Hermine is getting a little stronger in the Gulf of Mexico as it heads toward the coasts of Texas and Mexico.
A tropical storm warning was issued early Monday for the southern Texas coast. A tropical storm warning was already in effect for the coast of Mexico from Tampico to the mouth of the Rio Grande.
Hermine’s maximum sustained winds have increased to near 45 mph (75 kph) with some additional strengthening expected before the storm makes landfall.
Heavy rain is predicted with northeastern Mexico into south Texas getting 4 to …

The Dutchman charged with killing a 21-year-old Peruvian woman and suspected in the disappearance of U.S. teenager Natalee Holloway has acknowledged extorting money from Holloway’s parents and says he did it to get back at them.
In an interview published Monday, the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf quoted Joran van der Sloot as confessing to taking money from the family of the American in return for revealing the location of her body. He was indicted in the U.S. in June for extortion after being caught in an FBI sting, though the place …

US President Barack Obama unveils plans Monday to spend at least 50 billion dollars to expand and renew US roads, railways and airports, in a fresh bid to fire up sluggish economic growth.
Obama, under intense pressure over November’s mid-term congressional elections in which his Democrats fear heavy losses, was set to make the announcement in a speech in Wisconsin, an official said.
The event, marking Labor Day, the traditional kick off date for US election campaigns, heralds a week in which Obama travels to another struggling midwestern state, Ohio, and holds …