Training camp is only three weeks away, and these 10 storylines are going to dominate.
1. Will the NFL play its season without being interrupted by COVID-19?
Not a fun question, but the obvious one. Does the NFL pull off what the NBA, NHL and MLB couldn’t, and have a full season without interruption?
Of course, the NFL has the advantage of timing, but it’s still tricky. Football has the largest rosters and constant close contact. The league is clearly aiming for a full, on-time campaign, but it’s going to be a constant story of whether it can be done.
2. A pair of veteran AFC quarterbacks trying to prove their health
The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are rife with potential … and pitfalls.
New England signed Cam Newton to a one-year, minimum deal. The Pats are hoping the 31-year-old is healthy and able. The same is true of Pittsburgh and Ben Roethlisberger, with the veteran coming off Tommy John surgery. At 38, can Big Ben stay upright for 16 games?
If the Patriots or Steelers get healthy years from their star quarterbacks, they’re instantly in the conversation for biggest AFC challenger to the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens.
3. How do Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski change the Buccaneers?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and playoff expectations. Not usually terms which go together.
Yet for Tampa, it’s win big or fail hard. With Brady and Gronk on the Bucs, there’s an expectation of offensive fireworks and a defense built to rush the passer with Shaquil Barrett, Jason Pierre-Paul and coordinator Todd Bowles’ blitz packages.
After 12 straight years without the postseason, how do the presences of Brady and Gronkowski change the team? Tampa Bay has long needed a culture shock, and it’s about to get one.
4. Does Tua Tagovailoa start now or later in Miami?
Tagovailoa is the future on South Beach. The question is when.
With Ryan Fitzpatrick in town, there’s little reason to rush the rookie onto the field. After sustaining myriad injuries at Alabama, including ankle and hip ailments which required surgery, allowing Tagovailoa to heal completely — which giving his Boyd additional rest — isn’t a bad thing.
Of course, this is a business. Owner Stephen Ross wants to sell tickets. The Dolphins are one of the few NFL teams which won’t consistently sell out regardless of record. If Tagovailoa plays and fans are allowed in the stadium, there will be demand for seats. Something to consider.
5. What’s the dynamic in Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love?
The Green Bay Packers were a game away from the Super Bowl last season. Instead of helping Aaron Rodgers, they drafted his eventual replacement.
While not having media to interview him at his locker may help diffuse the tension, it’ll still exist within the team. How well does Rodgers do mentoring Jordan Love, or does he alienate both Love and those around him he feels are sympathetic towards the rookie?
Rodgers is a generational talent. He’s also been seen as tough to deal with at times. Which Rodgers shows up for camp?
6. Can Mike McCathy get the job done in Dallas?
The Dallas Cowboys were arguably the NFL’s biggest disappointment in 2019. Now, with Jason Garrett out and Mike McCarthy in, can they finally realize their potential?
McCarthy has a Super Bowl ring from his Green Bay days, but said title was a decade ago. Since then, he’s been seen as a stale coach who relies far too much on slant-flat combinations. Will he fall back into his ways, or does he innovate after having more than a year to self-scout after the Packers ousted him in 2018?
7. Will Colts’ additions make them a contender in the AFC?
There’s always a trendy pick. The Indianapolis Colts will be that for many in 2020.
General manager Chris Ballard signed Philip Rivers along with cornerback Xavier Rhodes. He also traded a first-round pick for Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. The trio brings star power, but only Buckner is in his prime.
Can Rivers find his previous form after a hideous year with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2019? The same is true of Rhodes, who despite being named a Pro Bowler last season, was horrible by almost any metric?
If so, the Colts are a problem in the wide-open AFC South. If not, they’d be lucky to make the playoffs.
8. Is there enough talent at quarterback for Chargers to be a threat?
The Chargers have a roster littered with All-Pro talent. But what of their quarterbacks?
Tyrod Taylor is a serviceable journeyman, and Justin Herbert with a first-round rookie many feel was significantly overdrafted. If Taylor or Herbert impress, the Chargers could be dangerous in the weaker AFC. If not, they could be ticketed for another top-10 pick come April.
Few teams can match the overall roster. Keenan Allen, Hunter Henry, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler are terrific weapons. Melvin Ingram, Joey Bosa, Derwin James, Linval, Joseph, Denzel Perryman, Casey Hayward, Desmond King and Kenneth Murray could form a top-five defense.
None of it matters if Taylor and Herbert underwhelm.
9. The pressure is on for the Ravens this time
The regular season means nothing. Awards mean nothing. It’s Super Bowl or disaster for the Baltimore Ravens.
It won’t be as easy this time for Baltimore. Every team in the AFC North is better. Lamar Jackson is brilliant, but won’t be getting the media glow. He’ll be getting the scrutiny after two playoff flameouts. In a word, expectations.
The Ravens went 14-2 last year only to fall apart in the AFC Divisional round in a decisive loss to the Tennessee Titans. They can’t afford another meltdown this time around.
10. Do the Seahawks have what it takes to dethrone 49ers?
No division is tougher than the NFC West. However, while the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals would be surprise challengers to the San Francisco 49ers, the Seattle Seahawks are prime suspects.
Seattle was a yard away in Week 17 from both sweeping the Niners and winning the West. Entering 2020, the Seahawks are largely the same team, sans Jadeveon Clwoney and with Greg Olsen. The 49ers made no veteran additions, but lost receiver Emmanuel Sanders and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
If the Seahawks can best the 49ers, the balance of power in the NFC is significantly altered.
Power rankings
Top 10 longest-tenured head coaches without a Super Bowl win (in SB era)
1. Bud Grant (1967-83, ’85) – Minnesota Vikings
2. Jeff Fisher (1995-2010) – Tennessee Titans
3. Marvin Lewis (2003-18) – Cincinnati Bengals
4. Andy Reid (1999-2012) – Philadelphia Eagles
5. Dan Reeves (1981-92) – Denver Broncos
6. Marv Levy (1986-97) – Buffalo Bills
7. Jim Mora (1986-96) – New Orleans Saints
8. Marty Schottenheimer (1989-98) – Kansas City Chiefs
9. Dennis Green (1992-2001) – Minnesota Vikings
10. John Fox, Jack Del Rio, Jason Garrett, Ron Rivera, Wayne Fontes (9 years each)
Quotable
“To me, they’re there. They’re there on the offense and the reason I think that they’re there on the offense is that, and I’ve said this is, Kyle is our version of Bill Walsh. I think he’s one of the most innovative guys in pro football when it comes to offense.”
– Former 49ers and Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott on Kyle Shanahan entering 2020
Lott is one of the greatest defensive players to ever live, and he has a high opinion of Shanahan. Of course, Lott may be biased as a four-time champion with the 49ers, but his point is well-taken. Despite Shanahan’s infamous Super Bowl collapses, his offenses are phenomenally schemed.
The question is whether Shanahan can finish. He’s clearly one of the brightest coaches in the league, but few are under more pressure in 2020.
Podcast
Random stat
Matthew Stafford has thrown for 41,025 yards, the highest total of any quarterback without a playoff win.
Info learned this week
1. Redskins reviewing, and eventually changing, their name
On Saturday morning, the Washington Redskins announced they would review their nickname after FedEx and Nike expressed serious displeasure with the name.
None of the parties involved should be celebrated, least of all, team owner Dan Snyder.
FedEx and Nike have long been fine with the nickname, a word seen for decades as insensitive at best and racist at worst. Now, with the country finally becoming more socially inclusive, two giant corporations are attempting to be on the right side of history. The epitome of better late than never.
As for Snyder, he’s a greedy coward who was forced into doing the right thing after being a belligerent jerk for ions.
Snyder famously fought back against ever changing the name, even when Native Americans expressed their outrage. He never cared about anybody’s feelings on the subject until he stood to lose millions of dollars. Then, suddenly, he got a case of morals. Funny how that works.
The Redskins will soon be no more because money talks. It’s about time, but don’t get it twisted. Everyone involved did this for the almighty dollar, and not a damn thing more.
2. Chris Jones threatens long holdout without new contract from Chiefs
Last week, Chris Jones threatened to sit out the season without a new deal from the Kansas City Chiefs. It was the first public statement from Jones on the topic since he spoke to Colin Cowherd on FOX radio the day he was given the franchise tag.
We’ve long reported on this situation at FanSided, and the facts largely remain the same. Jones wants to be a Chief. Kansas City wants to retain him. The number was always going to be approximately $21 million per year, a figure which was set when Frank Clark signed a five-year, $105 million deal with the Chiefs last spring.
Clark is a great player, but to that point, hadn’t played a snap in red and gold. Jones had earned all his accolades in Kansas City. The fact was not lost on humor his representation.
While both sides want to make a deal, the pandemic has caused major problems. With the 2021 salary cap in peril after being projected as high as $240 million, teams are having a very tough time signing their tagged players.
In fact, 14 players were given the franchise tag this winter. None have inked a long-term deal.
While anything remains possible, it appears likely Jones has to play on the tag this season. If so, he’ll likely sit out for a while, but giving up game checks of approximately $1 million after earning $6.2 million total in his first four seasons.
3. Signing Antonio Brown is a massive risk for any team
Antonio Brown to the Buccaneers? To the Houston Texans?
The rumors keep coming, even if the reported interest has been murky at best.
Brown turns 32 years old this week. He played all of one game last year, a Week 2 win for the Patriots. He was either traded or released by three teams in 2019, most-notably by the then-Oakland Raiders after one of the most bizarre few months any player has ever authored.
A free agent, talk has swirled about whether Brown will be back in the NFL this season. On that front, Houston would be an ideal fit in many ways. The Texans traded DeAndre Hopkins and didn’t replace him with a true No. 1 receiver. Quarterback Deshaun Watson is on board, but is head coach Bill O’Brien? Seems those two would be oil and water with O’Brien’s no-nonsense personality.
As for Tampa Bay, the fit is less obvious. Yes, Brady and Brown have a good relationship, but Brown wouldn’t be the alpha there. He’d be getting in line behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and to some extent, Rob Gronkowski. Tough to see Brown happily accepting being a smaller part of the dynamic.
Ultimately, Brown is one of the best receivers in league history. The NFL has a long record of putting talent before trouble. We’ll see if a team does it once again this summer.
4. Browns would be wise to trade David Njoku while he has potential
David Njoku wants a trade. The Cleveland Browns don’t seen opposed.
When first-year general manager Andrew Berry signed tight end Austin Hooper to a market-resetting contract in March, Njoku’s position on the Browns seemed tenuous. Over the weekend, news broke of his displeasure, with agent Drew Rosenhaus demanding a trade.
Njoku, 23, is signed for two more years at $9 million. Over his first two seasons, the Miami product caught 88 passes for 1,025 yards and eight touchdowns. Last year, though, Njoku played four games — only 99 snaps — and totaled five receptions for 41 yards and a score with a broken wrist derailing his campaign.
With Njoku on the block, the question of his value comes front and center.
Berry would be hard-pressed to land more than a Day 3 pick, but he should have suitors. Njoku is still younger than some rookies and has flashed potential. At 6-foot-4 and 247 pounds, he’s got great size and terrific athleticism.
The potential is there. Of course, potential is a fancy way for saying he hasn’t done anything yet.
A team to watch? The New York Jets. Sam Darnold is entering his third season while head coach Adam Gase is in his second. The offense is without weapons beyond aging running back Le’Veon Bell and rookie receiver Denzel Mims. Landing Njoku would give Darnold another target without a huge investment, helping him succeed in a critical year.
5. NFLPA is right for wanting to cancel preseason schedule
This was always on the horizon.
Preseason games are important for a select few players. Most don’t need them, and loathe playing in them. With the player’s union serving the interest of the majority, it makes sense it wants to scuttle the exhibition slate with concerns over COVID-19 taking priority.
With the NFL reportedly set to cancel preseason Weeks 1 and 4, the NFLPA voted to take matters further. While fringe players and myriad agents upset about the decision, it’s the right move.
Why risk exposure and injury in year already rife with potential pitfalls? If the league can avoid close contact before the regular season, it should at every turn.
History lesson
Every once in a great while, the NFL has a game so iconic it becomes known for a nickname.
Perhaps the first such occasion was 1934, when the Chicago Bears and New York Giants played for the NFL title, known later as “The Sneakers Game.”
On a frozen field at the Polo Grounds, the Giants trailed the undefeated Bears, 10-3, at halftime. It was then New York changed out its traditional cleats for sneakers picked up by Abe Cohen — a tailor and friend of Giants head coach Steve Owen — from a Manhattan department store during the first half.
It took New York until the fourth quarter to seize the advantage of better footing on the icy surface, scoring 27 unanswered points to win, 30-13.
Parting shot
Last week, a report emerged of the Chiefs preparing to accept a sponsor for their field. Had the report been accurate, it would have been GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. However, the organization quickly put out a statement dispelling the notion.
Why bring this up? I love history, and it made me think of the days when stadium sponsors didn’t exist.
Remember the days of the Astrodome, Veterans Stadium, Mile High Stadium and Candlestick Park? What about the Orange Bowl, Texas Stadium, RFK Stadium and Memorial Stadium? Great names. Intimidating places to play.
Now? Welcome to our contest between the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field. Not quite the same ring.
And look, I get it. The sponsorships bring in major cash. Tough to blame them for making the move.
It’s still a welcome sight to see the world-champion Chiefs keep Arrowhead Stadium as such.