From Tom Brady to an additional game, the year promises to be an exciting one
With the 102 season of the National Football League just underway, fans can look forward to the numerous intriguing storylines that are present in the league this year. Here are a few:
“It’s a man! It’s a plane! No, it’s the GOAT!”
Former First Take analyst Max Kellerman is famous for theorizing in 2016 that then-New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was about to fall off a cliff. Brady, who was thirty-nine at the time, has won three Super Bowls, two Super Bowl MVP awards, and a NFL MVP award since. Now forty four, the seven-time Super Bowl champion is looking to add to his extensive trophy cabinet. His team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has been ranked by experts as the best team in the league. The Bucs boast an impressive receiving corps, with stars like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Defensively, their front-seven wreaks havoc on opposing quarterbacks and is the best at stopping the run. If you don’t believe it, ask Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. The GOAT is clearly in the later stages of his career, but it’s clear that no cliff is imminent. He will look to march the Bucs to back-to-back Super Bowls.
“How ‘bout them Cowboys!”
2020 was a season to forget for America’s Team. With quarterback Dak Prescott going down due to a gruesome ankle injury in Week Five, Dallas’ season was effectively over. Although the commendable play of Andy Dalton and Ben DiNucci gave Cowboys fans some semblance of hope, it was not enough to replace the qualities that Prescott brought to the team. After two consecutive seasons of missing the postseason, combined with an owner questioning his own mortality, America’s Team is looking to reverse the trend. A healthy Prescott and rejuvenated offence would go a long way in making Dallas a legitimate threat. However, questions about the defence remain; Dallas was one of the worst defensive teams in the league. Although they have switched defensive coordinators, is that enough to significantly improve a bottom-tier unit? As always, all the pressure is on Dallas. Maybe they deserve a bit of sympathy? Or maybe not.
“Mister Rodgers, why is the neighbourhood on fire?!”
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers let Packers management know that he was extremely upset this off-season. Stemming from numerous perceived slights by management and the coaching staff, A-Rod demanded a trade to another team this summer. A first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, Rodgers’ availability triggered the interest of the entire league. There is certainly validity to Rodgers’ argument. The Packers have not been proactive in providing him with requisite options offensively, while also failing to bolster a below average defensive unit. However, Rodgers was not traded and is expected to play the rest of the year in Green Bay. Thus, we can expect some potential fireworks out of the Packers’ locker room this season. Rodgers is not getting any younger and his lone Super Bowl ring diminishes his legacy in comparison to Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. The Packers go nowhere without Rodgers, so they might want to heed his input.
“An extra battle”
After forty four years of a sixteen game regular season schedule, the NFL has decided to expand the regular season to seventeen games. The announcement of the intent to expand originally triggered intense debate. American football is an inherently violent sport. The players bear the brunt of any physical and mental damage. The average playing career in the NFL is just over three years. With chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) becoming a relevant topic in all contact sports, there was a legitimate safety concern expressed by those who were against the expansion. Even though football fans love the NFL, there must be an understanding that players are paying a terrible cost for their entertainment. After Junior Seau took his life in 2012, doctors were able to confirm in 2013 that he had been suffering from CTE. Players have been open about having to use pain medications, recreational drugs, and alcohol to deal with the damages sustained by their bodies. In Seau’s case, these alleviations may have aided in causing his death. The NFL owners and the NFL Players Union may have agreed to an extra game to make more revenue, but can the costs really be quantified? Therefore, you can expect the sad reality that injuries will be more prevalent this season.
“Welcome to hell, rooks!”
Just as 1L is a significant adjustment from undergrad, rookies entering the league from college are facing the same challenges. It will be difficult at first. A 1L might be confused over how to analyze cases, just as a rookie quarterback has no clue how to run a professional level offensive scheme. A 1L might be overwhelmed with the number of readings and assignments that seem to never end, just as a cornerback is overwhelmed by the number of coverages and receiver tactics that they must contend with every week. A message of advice: It is going to be ok. Learn from failures, expand your thinking, and do not be afraid to ask for help. Peyton Manning holds the record for the most interceptions by a rookie quarterback in their first season. Manning is now widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game. There are supports for 1L’s just as there are supports for overwhelmed rookies. Well, unless you were drafted by the Jets; only divine intervention can help you then.