With so little NFL news right now, I decided to give spring team rankings a try. This wasn’t easy — it was difficult balancing potential for next season with last year’s results. And my conclusion was surprising: The Patriots are going to be the best team in the NFL again. Not only are they getting Tom Brady back, but they also improved in the offseason. I’ll update these rankings before Week 1.

1. Patriots
2. Steelers
3. Titans
4. Giants
5. Colts
6. Falcons
7. Cardinals
8. Saints
9. Chargers
10. Panthers
11. Ravens
12. Cowboys
13. Eagles
14. Vikings
15. Dolphins
16. Texans
17. Broncos
18. Bears
19. Redskins
20. Packers
21. Bills
22. Jaguars
23. Buccaneers
24. Jets
25. 49ers
26. Browns
27. Bengals
28. Seahawks
29. Rams
30. Chiefs
31. Raiders
32. Lions

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer doesn’t seem to optimistic about receiver Chad Johnson, er, Ochocinco (at least Ochocinco looks less ridiculous as one word) being a contributor to the Cincinnati passing game in 2009.

In a radio interview this week, Palmer referred to Ochocinco in the past tense and talked about his other receivers he’ll be looking to now that T.J. Houshmandzadeh has departed. Having your quarterback lose faith in you does not bode well for Ochocinco, who might just get his wish to be traded if Palmer isn’t throwing to him.

The Bengals might be in for another turbulent summer. And to think, we all thought “Hard Knocks” would be boring in Cincinnati.

Jon Gruden is taking over for Tony Kornheiser in the Monday Night Football broadcast booth. This might be an ingenious move for Gruden after being fired as coach of the Bucs, or it may drive viewers to mute that Monday night game.

I think Gruden will do well behind the mic. He’s always been personable, and with a Super Bowl ring in tow, he’s obviously has the resume to offer opinions upon football. There have been some less-than-stellar stints in the broadcast booth by ex-coaches (Jerry Glanville comes to mind), and there have been some runaway success (that guy with the video game, what’s his name, um, Madden).

I doubt Gruden will fall flat, but what might drive him out of the booth is the will to coach again. Madden resisted it and became a legend. Is this Gruden’s path as well?

As the offseason trudges along with little news, here my last installment of fantasy rankings for the spring (I’m not even bothering with defenses — seriously, are you that worried this far out?). I haven’t looked at any other rankings for kickers yet, and I have a feeling they might be off from some other lists. But really, drafting a kicker is such a low priority that there shouldn’t be stress involved. And my initial hunch is that K2s will be deep and plentiful.

KICKERS
1. Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots
2. David Akers, Eagles
3. John Kasay, Panthers
4. Ryan Longwell, Vikings
5. Rob Bironas, Titans
6. Matt Bryant, Buccaneers
7. Jason Elam, Falcons
8. Kris Brown, Texans
9. Nate Kaeding, Chargers
10. Lawrence Tynes, Giants
11. Garrett Hartley, Saints
12. Josh Brown, Rams
13. Neil Rackers, Cardinals
14. Robbie Gould, Bears
15. Phil Dawson, Browns
16. Josh Reed, Steelers
17. Mason Crosby, Packers
18. Rian Lindell, Bills
19. Adam Vinatieri, Colts
20. Matt Stover, Ravens
21. Nick Folk, Cowboys
22. Joe Nedney, 49ers
23. Shayne Graham, Bengals
24. Matt Prater, Broncos
25. Jay Feely, Jets
26. Olindo Mare, Seahawks
27. Dan Carpenter, Dolphins
28. Shaun Suisham, Redskins
29. Josh Scobee, Jaguars
30. Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders
31. Jason Hanson, Lions
32. Ryan Succup, Chiefs

The Dolphins have renamed their stadium “Landshark Stadium.” No, I am not making this up.

I’m still undecided whether I like this. It’s clearly a ridiculous name, even if it’s coming from Jimmy Buffet’s/Anhueser Busch’s Landshark Lager. The Buffet aspect is cool, but it’s still a corporate name.

On the other hand, after so many ridiculous stadium names bought from corporate entities (the current worst: EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City — EnergySolutions is a company that disposes of radioactive waste), at least this one is fun. And here’s the best part — do you here Landshark Stadium and instantly think of the old Landshark skit on “Saturday Night Live?” The one where Chevy Chase (as Landshark) innocently tricks his victim by saying “I’m only a dolphin?”

For that alone, especially in the home of the Dolphins: excellent.

Trying … not … to … blog … about … Favre … rumors …

That said, the Browns signed former Lions receiver Mike Furrey on Tuesday. This might turn out to be a good move by Cleveland, which is facing the prospect of Donte Stallworth missing 2009 arrest following DUI manslaughter charges earlier this year.

Furrey put up nowhere near the numbers last season that he did in 2006, when he caught 98 passes and six TDs. But he’s a veteran receiver for a team still trying to figure out who will be playing quarterback, and a for a team that still might trade star WR Braylon Edwards. The Browns drafted two receivers in the second round, and Furrey’s veteran presence should help with the rookies as well. If he and David Patten can be decent complements to Edwards, the Cleveland offense could return to its 2007 success.

The Jets last week formally released Brett Favre last week from the retirement list, technically making him a free agent. And Vikings coach Brad Childress isn’t exactly denying that they might be interested in the 39-year-old future Hall of Famer.

I’m officially sick of blogging about Favre’s retirement or lack thereof. He tried playing one more year with another team; he didn’t quite succeed; he shouldn’t tarnish his image any more (especially if he ends up in Minnesota). Troy Aikman never came back. Barry Sanders never came back. Favre is older than both of them when they retired, and he shouldn’t come back either.

This news may mean nothing and Favre isn’t considering returning. But if he’s not, I offer this warning: Don’t make me post about you again, Brett. I’m not going to be so nice.

My tight end ratings are mostly straightforward with not too many surprises. What impressed me the most on this list wasn’t the first tier of tight ends, but the quality of TE2s. I’d be happy with Heath Miller or Todd Heap as my backup tight end. With this depth in the second tier, you should be able to safely wait even later to draft a backup TE.

TIGHT ENDS
1. Antonio Gates, Chargers
2. Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs
3. Jason Witten, Cowboys
4. Chris Cooley, Redskins
5. Dallas Clark, Cowboys
6. John Carlson, Seahawks
7. Owen Daniels, Texans
8. Jeremy Shockey, Saints
9. Kellen Winslow, Buccaneers
10. Greg Olsen, Bears
11. Visanthe Shiancoe, Vikings
12. Zach Miller, Raiders
13. Heath Miller, Steelers
14. Anthony Fasano, Dolphins
15. Bo Scaife, Titans
16. Kevin Boss, Giants
17. Todd Heap, Ravens
18. Donald Lee, Packers
19. Tony Scheffler, Broncos
20. Dustin Keller, Jets
21. Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars
22. Vernon Davis, 49ers
23. Ben Watson, Patriots
24. Reggie Kelly, Bengals
25. Desmond Clark, Bears
26. Alge Crumpler, Titans
27. Daniel Graham, Broncos
28. Brandon Pettigrew, Lions
29. Steve Heiden, Browns
30. Brent Smith, Eagles
31. L.J. Smith, Ravens
32. Randy McMichael, Rams
33. Billy Miller, Saints
34. Jeff King, Panthers
35. Jerramy Stevens, Buccaneers
36. Donald Royal, Bills
37. Michael Gaines, Lions
38. Sean Ryan, Chiefs
33.