It’s Time For Nfl Camps 101 Preseason Primer Spans A To Z As Teams Assemble For Training

Before the end of this week, Mike Ditka will be in someone’s face the smart money says Heath Shuler’s hollering the seven words he has not been able to say on television the past four years.

By the end of the week, Dave Brown will roll his eyes and explain again why he will be a better quarterback this season.

Sometime between now and sundown Friday, Reggie White will be spreading the word of God in Green Bay, Dan Reeves will be spreading the word of Tom Landry in Atlanta and Bill Parcells will be spreading the word of Bill Parcells on Long Island:

“You are what you are… . I only go by what I see… . Confidence is borne of demonstrated ability… . ” Praise The Tuna.

This means NFL training camps are set to open; a few already have. Players will again be sweating for the oldies - Ditka, Marv Levy and Dick Vermeil among them - and millions will begin the arduous task of building hope that their team, not the Green Bay Packers, will return from San Diego in January with the Lombardi Trophy.

To help make the transition from the beach to the blocking dummies, we offer our A-to-Z guide to training camps, 26 things you should know:

Attitude: Do the Packers have what it takes to repeat? “I’m sure most of the guys are saying, ‘I can’t give any more,’ ” Coach Mike Holmgren told reporters when their camp opened Friday in DePere, Wis. “But you can, we will, because that is the only chance we have of getting back there.”

Bargains: The salary cap creates a lot of them, especially late in the off-season, when some big names are cut for cap reasons and have to take what they can get. The Dallas Cowboys picked up receiver Anthony Miller, the Washington Redskins got quarterback Jeff Hostetler and the Kansas City Chiefs grabbed receiver Brett Perriman in June. All were cap-friendly deals.

Comebacks: Vermeil takes over the St. Louis Rams 14 years after he last coached. Ditka was out four years, but was hired by the Saints, who are desperate to get New Orleans excited about them. Can they relate to today’s players? We begin finding out this summer. They will have an immediate impact on NFL Films’ selection of sound bites.

Deion: Will Deion Sanders stay in Cincinnati to pursue stolen bases and a ho-hum wild card berth with the Reds? Or will he re-join the Cowboys in time for the season?

Eleven: This is the number of coaching changes since last year. (This includes Bruce Coslet, who took over the Cincinnati Bengals in midseason.) The most scrutinized will be Steve Mariucci of the San Francisco 49ers and Kevin Gilbride of the San Diego Chargers, who follow the successful George Seifert and Bobby Ross, respectively.

Fresh Air: If at least one New England Patriot describes the laidback Pete Carroll as a “breath of fresh air” after the four years of Parcells’ creative tension, be very afraid. This is what the New York Giants said during Ray Handley’s first summer. (Even worse: “Pete Carroll treats us like men.”)

Guru: The Giants have hired one for Brown, who seemed destined to be a “struggling young quarterback” forever. If new Coach Jim Fassel cannot build Brown’s confidence and help him relax, they may have to hire Samantha from “Bewitched” to take the next crack at the transformation.

Heat: The Chiefs, Chicago Bears and Saints join the Packers in Wisconsin to beat it. The Arizona Cardinals move to Flagstaff, Ariz., to rise above it. The Giants drive three hours up the Hudson to Albany, as if hoping the New York media won’t follow.

Idiot: There’s a new book out, “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Football Like a Pro.” Joe Theismann wrote it.

Jello: Watch the Cowboys offensive linemen running their 40-yard sprints this time of year, and you’re bound to think of it.

Keyshawn: Johnson of the Jets, whose book “Just Give Me the Damn Ball!,” will play havoc with team chemistry and be an issue all summer. Makes Theismann’s book read like “War and Peace.”

Last Chance: This is Norv Turner’s fourth year in Washington, and that’s enough time to turn around a franchise.

Money: Desmond Howard, the Super Bowl MVP, left the Packers for the Oakland Raiders and a lot of it, $6 million for four years. Ron Wolf, Green Bay’s penny-wise, pound-brilliant GM, quietly signed Qadry Ismail to return punts for $650,000.

No Comment: Reeves, the Atlanta Falcons’ new coach, will say it when asked about the Giants. Then he will proceed to comment. At length.

Orlando: Pace, the No.1 pick of the draft, will face expectations that are too high as a rookie with the Rams. People will want to see an offensive tackle do something that makes them say “Wow!” But it just doesn’t happen.

Pasta: This is the most consumed food at training camp. Carbo-loading for the two-a-day practices, you know.

Quality: The Cowboys have hired Calvin Hill to bring some to their battered public image.

Retired? With his career coaching record of 108-35, this will be a one-year hiatus for Seifert, followed by a lucrative deal to return in 1998.

Sweaters: Giants GM George Young is often seen wearing one - turtleneck, no less - on 90-degree days in training camp. But don’t worry, the draft is in good hands.

Tennessee: This is the new home of the Oilers, who will play in Memphis this season before moving to a new stadium in Nashville next year. Just wondering: If Wahoo, Neb., offered to build a stadium and charge no rent, would a team move there?

Unnecessary: Injuries resulting from two-a-day workouts and four exhibition games. One day soon, the training camp grind will be cut back and the regular season extended to 18 games.

Velcro: It’s not on Jerry Rice’s hands. Just looks that way.

Wuerffel: Look for Danny, the Heisman-winning quarterback who doesn’t have an arm, to end up starting at quarterback for the Saints before his rookie year is over. If any young quarterback has the stuff to withstand Ditka’s tirades and succeed, it’s him.

X-Factor: How much will Drew Bledsoe miss his quarterbacks coach, Chris Palmer, who went to Jacksonville?

Yeeooooooww: The scream heard in Green Bay after Brett Favre has played one of his practical jokes, like pouring ice water over the top of a bathroom stall.

Zgonina: Jeff, a defensive tackle, has left the Falcons and signed with St. Louis. Thought you might have missed that one.