The National Football League has always been one of the most liquid of the professional sports leagues, and this season has been no different. The NFL has the ability to attract all sorts of attention from all sorts of people, anytime something of any significance happens. I took it upon myself to list a few of the things that I think will be the more interesting story lines of this season.
1. Rookie Quarterbacks and their first NFL starts
Always an exciting topic no doubt, this subject takes on an especially interesting twist this year as heralded rookie Cam Newton looks to lead the Panthers out of their perennial cellar slot. Joining him as potential rookie starters are Colin Kapernick in San Fransisco, Andy Dalton in Cincinnati and possibly Christian Ponder in Minnesota. Honestly, I don't care which teams these guys are on, or what kind of cruddy offense they inherit, I am hard pressed to find a reason why any one of these guys should start a game this year. It just doesn't make much sense at this point in their career. Desperation is a stinky cologne, and the NFL stinks rather badly this year.
2. The ugly, horrifying, sad downfall of the Cincinnati Bengals
I'm thinking of a team who swept their division, showing sustainable levels of brilliant play behind good, not great, but solid, hardworking players. This team amazed NFL fans everywhere, especially those in their hometown. They talked the talk and walked the walk. This team was the 2009 Cincinnati Bengals. Yes, just two years removed from a truly great season, and the Bengals are looking down the barrel of a pitiful season. The worst part? This team is essentially the same as the 2009 team, minus a few players. Yes, their best WR is gone in Chad Ochocinco, and yes, they no longer want Carson Palmer as their quarterback, but otherwise this team has mostly the same players, coach and chance to win as the 2009 team did. Held back by the vanity of their owner and the recent lapses by coach Marvin Lewis, this team is not headed to the promised land.
3. The National Flag Football League
I don't take credit for that term, that honor belongs to about 20 separate NFL players who are all upset about the NFL led crackdown on hits that have always been a staple of football since its invention. Excessive fines and the threat of suspensions have led many players to a state of confusion, where they can't draw the line between a "dangerous" hit and a hit they were trained to do their whole life. Honestly, I've tried to rationalize the standpoint of the NFL for months now, and i'm tired of it. Every NFL player understands the risk they take when they step out onto the field, yet the commissioner seeks to further restrict the game to make football less dangerous. This task is impossible. Football is a dangerous and highly physical game. Ask Eric LeGrand. Ask Kevin Everett. This game has the potential to permanently alter the life of anyone who plays it. However, its benefits are tenfold in number compared to the risks. The NFL yearns to be progressive and safety minded, yet its players are fighting tooth and nail to keep it the same way. Let the players have what they want. Let the fans have what they want. Let football be football.
So there you have it, 3 big issues that will be prevalent throughout the NFL season. If you agree or disagree on anything, let me know in the comments. Keep reading and don't forget to sign up and follow my blog! >>
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