What are the ingredients for an unenviable offseason?
Well, start off with a “teaspoon” of a workplace investigation, followed by a report that implicates you in scandalous behaviour. Then, the Commissioner of the (National Football League) NFL drops a “pinch” of sanctions on the Patriots, with Tom Brady emerging scathed as the only suspended player on the team. How about a “scoop” of Ben Affleck’s nanny photographed wearing Brady’s Superbowl rings? Finally, we “sprinkle”some rumours about Brady having an extra-marital affair.
Bake for a few months and presto: a recipe for disaster.
Then, Brady does what Thomas Brady does and wins. With an all-star legal team, and a really weak amount of evidence from the league, the judge presiding over the case cleared Brady of all wrongdoing. This all happened about a week before the NFL regular season was set to start.
There is no such thing as bad publicity, right? The Patriots-Steelers game to kick off the NFL season drew record-setting ratings.
In the 2014 offseason, the headlines were the stance of the NFL on domestic violence. This season, the offseason was all about Brady, Bill Belichick, and the Patriots for good and bad reasons.
Here is your NFL preview, albeit a couple of weeks into the season.
The most competitive divisions:
American Football Conference (AFC) East
I know that this has been the Patriots’ stomping ground this century, but this past offseason, every other team in the division improved substantially while it is debatable whether the Pats upgraded at all.
The Bills got substantially better on offense with Shady McCoy, Charles Clay, and Percy Harvin. Oh, yeah, they also hired Rex Ryan!
The Dolphins have a more experienced Ryan Tannehill at the helm, with an improved receiving corps, and the beast himself, Ndamukong Suh, to shore up the defense.
Take a look at the Jets, who lost one of the more colourful coaches in the league and got another defensive-minded individual who did a fantastic job in Arizona — Todd Bowles. The return of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie is scary. Throw in rookie Leonard Williams with veteran star Brandon Marshall and you have a team who has actually improved offensively and defensively.
National Football Conference (NFC) West
Who doesn’t love a good, hardnosed, bloody, rough gridiron battle that resembles the old WWF “Hell in a Cell” match-up? That is the NFC West. Seattle versus St. Louis, San Fran versus St. Louis, San Fran versus Seattle, or Arizona versus St. Louis? Take your pick.
With familiarity over the years and strong defenses, the Seahawks and Rams are two potential playoff teams with a lot to prove. Remember, the Seahawks have been to the past two Superbowls and were left with a sour taste in their mouths after last year’s infamous play-call on the one-yard line. Needless to say, they will want to remind the world that the Twelfth Man plays smash-mouth ‘ball. The Rams are in their fourth year under Jeff Fisher, who will be looking to keep his job by bringing this team to the playoffs for the first time in eleven seasons. Boasting the best defensive line in the NFL, St. Louis has upgraded its backfield, offensive line, and secondary, making this roster quite intriguing.
Carson Palmer returns from his knee injury on a team with one of the best head coaches in the league. Kaepernick is looking to lead a squad that looks tremendously different (and depleted) from last year’s version. It will be a long shot for San Fran to make the playoffs with a new coaching staff, backfield, and thinner defense. Look for this division to be tight, with the potential for two (yes, I said “two”) wildcard teams from the NFC West.
Predictions
AFC Division Winners: Indianapolis, New England, Pittsburgh, and San Diego
AFC Wild Cards: Denverand New York Jets
NFC Division Winners: Seattle, Green Bay, Atlanta, and Dallas
NFC Wild Cards: ArizonaandSt. Louis
Award Picks
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Melvin Gordon, San Diego
I think Gordon has the best opportunity to shine (other than Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota) on the offensive side of the ball. San Diego is a run-first offense under Mike McCoy and they have a dynamic third-down back in Danny Woodhead. Mariota looked very good early on so far, however. It will be a close finish.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Randy Gregory
Guys with chips on their shoulder tend to do well. Here is a monster who should have been drafted much higher than he was, but fell to a team in need of pass rushing.
Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt
He is one of the scariest human beings on this planet. Sack machine. Best defensive player in the league, hands down.
Coach of the Year: Dan Quinn
Atlanta was so bad last year. In comes defensive-minded Quinn, who was Seattle’s defensive coordinator last season. In a weak division, the Falcons have a chance to have one of the league’s best offenses and a defense that is much improved.
Most Valuable Player: Aaron Rodgers
If Rodgers can stay healthy, he is the clear-cut best quarterback in the NFL. Period. He is the total package: a pocket-passing, scrambling, bullet-throwing, and discount-double-check-celebrating savant. Losing Jordy Nelson for the year was huge, but I’m pretty sure that I could suit up Green Bay and put up decent numbers with Rodgers under centre.
NFC Champions: Seattle
Bitter taste in their mouths. Acquired Jimmy Graham. If Kam Chancellor returns, look out world.
AFC Champions: Pittsburgh
Potent offense. Defense may not be the turnstile that it was for the past couple of years. Big Ben is hungry and I think they dethrone the Patriots as AFC Champions.
Superbowl Champions: Seattle
2015. Worst. Loss. Ever. When you lose like that, you want to hit everyone right in the mouth.
Expect the Browns to be really, really bad. Anticipate that the Raiders, Jags, Redskins, Bears, Lions, and Saints will follow suit. This season should be particularly interesting, especially to see how the Patriots react to the rest of the league. Teams clearly aren’t fond of them as several sources confirmed suspicions that New England is perceived as a bunch of unscrupulousand unethical people. Of course, injuries can change a team’s forecast instantly.
Maybe you agree with my opinions. Maybe you don’t. That’s what makes football so much fun: the unpredictability and level of parity after each offseason. It also doesn’t hurt when the preceding offseason was filled with so much news that was so salacious, you can’t help but keep your eyes peeled.
Sit back and enjoy this season. If not, you can always wait for another juicy story about the NFL to make its way to a television, computer, or cell phone near you. It’s bound to happen.