Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Handicapping the football season never is an easy mission, and the prolonged NFL lockout that finally was settled last week helped not a bit.

Many free agents won’t report to NFL camps until today, and most teams still are adding pieces while at the same time trying to fit their roster under the new salary cap of $123 million.

The roster juggling will go on until the first week of September.

So, having properly prepared the alibis, here is an official News-Gazette thumbnail report on each Florida NFL team’s chance to reach the playoffs this season. (As of now, don’t stock up on the confetti if you back a state squad.)

All three Florida teams – Tampa Bay, Miami, and Jacksonville – have the misfortune of playing in divisions with at least two good opponents.

The Bucs, 10-6, were one late-season overtime loss against Detroit from making the playoffs. Tampa Bay should get better. Its roster is loaded with good, young talent, including blossoming quarterback Josh Freeman and draft picks Adrian Clayborn (No. 1) and Da’Quan Bowers (No. 2), two honcho defensive linemen.

The problem is that Super Bowl contenders Atlanta and New Orleans both reside with the Bucs and the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South. As it stands now, the Bucs could be the odd men out again. But, Tampa Bay is far under the salary cap. A couple of good acquisitions still are possible. And, over the final six weeks of the season, the Bucs meet only one 2010 playoff team (Atlanta in the finale).

Playoff chances: 30 percent.

Jacksonville, as usual, was 8-8 last season. Or was it 7-9, or 6-10? Does anyone outside of the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area care? Some people do. They just don’t buy tickets. The Jaguars have multiple impediments to success this season. They are trying to shore up a bad defense, and with about 30 million to play with under the cap, they could add a body or two. Coach Jack Del Rio thinks first-round draft pick Blaine Gabbert is a top-tier NFL quarterback of the future.

But, like the Bucs, the Jaguars will find plenty of competition in the AFC South. Indianapolis is declining, but as long as Peyton Manning is under center, it is the team to beat. Houston, a perennial underachiever, is loading up its defense, recently adding former Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph. One more problem for the Jaguars is the schedule. In addition to its divisional rivals, Jacksonville plays San Diego, Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

Playoff chances: 10 percent.

And then there is Miami, 7-9, who has slipped since 2010 in the AFC East where New England and the N.Y. Jets may be the best in the conference.

What hope do the Dolphins offer their fans? Why, it’s scat-back probation machine Reggie Bush, standing in for the departed Ronnie Brown. Believe it or not, defensive end Jason Taylor, who left the Fins a couple of years ago, returns for his 50th anniversary season. Oops, small mistake. This will be only his 15th year in the league. It’s doubtful that Tom Brady or Mark Sanchez are concerned.

The Fins eternal quest for Dan Marino’s replacement remains unfulfilled, although the front office remains stubbornly smitten by Denver’s journeyman No. 1, Kyle Orton. The good news? Buffalo remains in the division.

Playoff chances: Are you kidding?

As for the major college programs in the state, look for the fans at FSU and UCF to have the most fun.

The Seminoles need a quarterback, yes, but most of the other parts are in place to make a run for the ACC Atlantic title under Jimbo Fisher. The Noles actually looked like the Noles of old much of last season.

UCF, after years of flopping around under George O’Leary, looks like the real deal. The Knights are a good bet to win Conference USA. A BCS bowl berth is a realistic goal. The Big East should be very interested in adding UCF to its football-playing membership.

Florida has little mojo entering the season. South Carolina and Georgia look strong in the SEC East. All is not lost in Gainesville, even with these relatively depleted Gators. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis will take advantage of quarterback John Brantley’s drop-back passing ability. You don’t need great receivers to rack up big yardage at the college level.

Talent-laden Miami is on the precipice of returning to the elite level, and new coach Al Golden could prod the Canes higher in the ACC. But that darned Virginia Tech never seems to go away in the Coastal Division.

As for USF, the floundering Bulls probably feel fortunate that they won’t see UCF in the near future.

Local high school football fans are assured of seeing at least two teams from Osceola County reach the Florida High School Athletic Association’s playoff series because of district realignment.

Osceola, St. Cloud, Harmony, Gateway, Liberty and Celebration high schools are grouped together in the new 7A District 6. Poinciana is in  5A-6 with Bishop Moore, Tavares, Eustis, Lake Nona and Port Orange Atlantic.

Since the district champion and the runner-up are guaranteed playoff spots, two teams from 7A-6 will advance.

Who will they be?

Based on the returning talent, the favorites are Osceola and St. Cloud.

Of course, lots can change over the next three months.