Vick, the Atlanta Falcons superstar quarterback who pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting charges on August 27, awaits sentencing on December 10.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him indefinitely after Vick admitted to the grisly charges.

In addition to outraging animal lovers, Vick's case brought up numerous references to other NFL miscreants who have landed on the banned list under Goodell's new get-tough good conduct policies.

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Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones was slapped with a year suspension in April after half a dozen arrests which, Goodell told the player, "have put in jeopardy an otherwise promising NFL career."

Cincinnati's Chris Henry was banned eight games by Goodell as was Chicago's Tank Johnson, both after run-ins with the law.

Now it will be up to the likes of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Brett Favre, LaDainian Tomlinson and Reggie Bush to restore the league's luster starting with tomorrow morning's (HK time) opener, New Orleans at defending champions Indianapolis.

Manning will be trying to guide the Colts to a second successive Super Bowl title - a repeat last achieved by the New England Patriots in 2005.

In their quest to unseat the Colts, Brady's Patriots have added a host of players, including a trio of receivers - the talented but temperamental Randy Moss, former Philadelphia wideout Donte Stallworth and Wes Welker.

"I've heard over the last six months the expectations for this team - that we can throw the ball on whomever we want and run it and gain 450 yards a game," Brady said. "But it takes a lot of guys coming together, finding a role and playing with toughness and effort ... The potential of the team, that's one thing, but going out there to see what we can accomplish starting week one is what's most important."

Elsewhere in the AFC, the San Diego Chargers boast the best running back in the game in Tomlinson and the Cincinnati Bengals are betting that quarterback Carson Palmer has what it takes to challenge Manning and Brady.

Baltimore, Denver and New York Jets each filled a void with running backs Willis McGahee, Travis Henry and Thomas Jones.

Expectations are also high in Cincinnati, where Palmer leads a potentially explosive offense.

In the NFC, the Saints appear poised to follow a feel-good 2006 season with a serious Super Bowl bid.

Of course the biggest question mark now is the Falcons, no thanks to the Vick fiasco. New coach Bobby Petrino will have to make do with journeyman Joey Harrington at quarterback. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE