48 Unfullfilled Expectations Regarding The 2010 NFL Season

wishful thinking
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Each NFL season comes with it's own expectations and I had a good time putting together this list of forty eight regarding the 2010 season.

The NFL has become such an up tight league, scripted by carefully rehearsed sound bites, that I believe it beneficial and relevant to reflect on some of the more complex characters and situations that made the 2010 NFL season more engaging, vulnerable, and above all, human.

Let's not forget, at the end of the day, it's just a game played by grown men for lots and lots of money.

Ocho Cinco TO Show Would Take the Bengals to the Next Level

you did what on Dancing with the Stars?
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

This duo had more chemistry on Ustream than on the field, and did little to put fear into opposing secondaries hearts. 

The Wild Cat

which way do I go?
Marc Serota/Getty Images

Talk about a fad, can't really remember a game this season where I saw the wild cat being utilized.

I suppose the Dolphins still use it.

Look at their record.

Mike Singletary and Alex Smith Would Be the Next Lombardi and Bart Starr Combo

Alex, what part of the word interception did you not understand?
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Singletary used ole school ways and gave them a bad name.

His emotional and somewhat unpredictable coaching style did not sit well with today's players.

The result?

Mike, you're outta here!

Randy Moss Would Behave Himself

Are these benches heated? WTF?
Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Randy Moss did not learn much in his NFL career, and his meal ticket to the Hall of Fame, the Patriots, finally had enough.  

Take me back "Beli-Brady!"

The Giants wouldn’t miss Plaxico.

Heisman pose, oops this ain't college no more.
Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

As if we didn't find this out last year, Giant fans seemed to have a big brain fart when it comes to Eli and their fragile passing game.  

Nicks and Smith are good, but heck, Plax still steals the show (even behind bars.)

The Texans Would Win...More.

I feel your pain. I was a Bills fan once.
Bob Levey/Getty Images

Have you ever wondered how a team could be so average for so long?  

Welcome to the Houston EightnEightans.

Wade Phillips Would Lead the Cowboys to the Super Bowl

Rather be fishin right about now.
Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Although I am not a Cowboys fan by any stretch, I do feel bad for nice guy Wade Phillips.

To his credit, Wade gave more credibility to the saying, "Nice guys finish last!"  

Tony Romo Would Be Super Bowl MVP

If only I had TO back...
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Romo All Pro, Super Bowl no-no. 

Jerry Jones Would Be a Genius

these sunglasses cost more than you make in a year of salary
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

It's just too easy, I will let the picture do all the talking.  

The Cowboy family looks like a big happy bunch these days, don't they?  

How bout dem Boys?

Donovan McNabb Would Be Shanahans Next Elway

I'm having second thoughts already.
Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

McNabb was doomed from the start by choosing to work with the shifty Shanahans and Snyder.  

Besides, Daniel Snyder changes coaches faster than he changes stadiums.

Wait a minute, he's not going back to RFK is he?

Talk about consistency.

One gets dizzy watching this DC circus.

The Jets Don’t Cheat

I know this looks like a mug shot.
NFL Photos/Getty Images

After the Mangini Patriot Filmgate incident, one got the impression the Jets could never cheat...well that didn't last too long.

Enter Sal "I'm Trippin" Alosi. 

Rexy’s Sexy

Man I look good in these shades
Donald Miralle/Getty Images

This guy attracts more bad press than a fly to fly paper.

Ok, he's human, but how much more of this stuff can we take!

Too many silly distractions. Anonymous foot fetish videos on youtube? Please!

Knock, knock, Rex you're really a head coach in the NFL now, the honeymoon's over!

Tim Tebow Would Not Be a Legend in the NFL

This feels like THE SWAMP all over again.
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Can Tebow lift Mile High off the ground after only one game?

Sure appears that way.

Michael Vick Wouldn’t Be Michael Vick

Fly like and Eagle...through Dallas.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The fact that we can't see his eyes beneath the visor says alot about this mysterious cat.  

Notice I did NOT say dog.

It often seemed like Vick was a man playing amongst boys this season.

Especially the Cowboys.

Tom Brady Wouldn’t Be Tom Brady

Is that really me on the Teletron? Look mean Tom.
Rick Stewart/Getty Images

He definitely had another all pro season in him, it was just a question of how big?

Big like now.

Vince Young Wouldn’t Be Vince Young

In better days...
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

After multiple chances, opportunities, and transgressions, it finally looks like Vince can use some good therapy.

Young behaved so erratically again this season, Jeff Fisher looked like he could use some good therapy too.

Brett Favre Would Have Another Career Year

$$$$ Gonna sell me of few of these...
Scott A. Schneider/Getty Images

The Vikings looked like an OTB junkie on his last dollar going after Favre again, actually sending veterans down to Mississippi to smoke him out before the season.  

It all seems rather foolish now.  

Tampa Bay Would Suck

Yeah I still work out. I can still play too.
Doug Benc/Getty Images

Hats off to now thirty three year old coach Raheem Morris, soon to be coach of the year? for turning around the Tampa Bay Bucs in less than two seasons.

At first, this seemed like a huge gamble.

Now the Glazers look like geniuses.  

The Raiders Would Suck

boom chug a lug. I'm a beast.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Again giving credit where credit is due.  It was only a year ago that I thought, "Wow, the Raiders don't even look like and NFL team."

Tip of the cap to Raider Nation and some great draft picks and key free agent pick ups that are paying big dividends.  

Congrats.

The Chiefs Would Suck

Wait, this ain't Green Bay!
Jamie Squire/Getty Images

I always thought this team had a good core group of players and only required a few key changes and a good head coach in order to be competitive.

It appears that the playoff bound Chiefs have covered all bases and are on their way up again.  

The Chargers Would NOT Suck

Well, we just didn't make enough plays.
Warren Little/Getty Images

I have been on a Charger beat down kick for the last two years now, and just don't understand what's going on with this team.

This entire organization if full of it. Breaking .500 and winning a playoff game seems OK year after year.

The Chargers have more excuses than the Obama administration.

Drew Brees Would Levitate Above the Super Dome and Fly Into The Heavens Above

Flying into the Heavens above.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Seriously folks, this may actually happen if Breesus leads the Saints to another Super Bowl victory.

Stay tuned.

Pete Carroll Would Make a Good NFL Coach If Given Another Opportunity

Game over yet? I have a book signing to catch.
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Third time is the charm?  

Still waiting.  

Brady Quinn Would Get An Opportuity To Be a Starting QB In the NFL Again

Man this sucks.
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

I predicted Quinn's early exit from Cleveland right here on Bleacher Report and wondered what Denver was thinking when they acquired him.  Then they drafted Tebow.  The remaining vapor trail of Charlie Weis' influence in favor of Quinn evaporated in an instant. (see McDaniels/Weis connection to Patriots) as did Brady Quinn's chances to start in Denver go with it.  

Now that McDaniels has been fired, I see little chance of Quinn being in Denver next year.  

Who knows, maybe he will land with the Chiefs or the Patriots. We shall see.

Carolina, Buffalo, Detroit, and Cleveland Would Be Competitive Teams

Ummmmmmmm, run.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

I look at these four teams and really wonder how hard it must be to be a loyal fan. A mix of small market doldrums and old NFC teams that never seem to be able to get it together.

Cleveland just may be the saving grace of this group. I still think Mangini can coach.  

Sorry Buffalo, few want to coach or play there anymore.  It will take something very special to get the mojo back.

Carolina? What happened? Good coach, went to the Super Bowl a few years back, something strange going on there.  

Detroit, how much longer to turn things around? Another decade?  

Darnell Dockett Would Not Get Another Tattoo And/or Piercing

Gonna get me another skull on my booty.
Christian Petersen/Getty Images

This guy is a heck of a player and great passion for the game.  

Tragic life story, see Wikipedia, makes his successes ever more extraordinary.  

Likes those tats and piercings. Likes tweeting about it too.

Ocho Cinco Would Give Up Tweeting

Can't wait to get back to my smartphone
Rob Loud/Getty Images

The man sure knows how to extend his career, on the internet anyway.  

Ocho remains the NFL king of twitter and has made such a splash in the entertainment industry that his time on the football field appears to be a side note to his other numerous projects.

As strange as it may seem, can any of us see Ocho going back to Chad Johnson ever again?

Pure marketing GENIUS!   

Whatever Happened to Larry Johnson Anyway?

Run...from twitter, please!
Win McNamee/Getty Images

Not really an illusion, but twitter had the exact opposite effect on this guys career.

As in "poof, up in smoke like a magic trick."  

LJ's career in the NFL disappeared faster than a deleted tweet.  

Talk about taking away to the keys to your twitter account.

Lord have mercy! Ocho please help this guy.

LeBron Made the Wrong Choice By Going to Miami.

Life is good.
Victor Decolongon/Getty Images

Ooops. We're talking football.

My bad.

Ben Roethlisberger Would Stop Dating

What bar was that again?
Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Low blow? Stop. Don't even.

Stop means STOP!

Troy Polamalu Would Get a Haircut

what you looking at?
Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

I feel strange bustin on this guy.

A wee bit frightened actually.

Clay Matthews Jr. Would Get a Haircut

Dude, this reminds me of Fast Times at Ridgemont High!
Jeff Golden/Getty Images

Definitely has his dad beat in the longer game time hair category.  

Can sure play too.  

"California Dreamin, got me in a haze!"

Tom Brady Would Get a Haircut

I like my hair, don't you Bill?
Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Just realized, this is a California thing.  

Troy, Clay, now Tom.

Not very Tea Party though TOM!

The Chargers Would Run Out of Excuses for Losing Big Games

This is a difficult game, it didn't go our way today.
Warren Little/Getty Images

If this team (and some of it's fans) weren't so cocky, this would be easier to let go of.  

I actually would like to see the Chargers go all the way.  

This team has the talent. It just does not seem possible with their mind set and penchant for excuses like, "Gosh we did ok, it's just a matter of a few bounces not going our way."  

Bull pucky!

Donovan McNabb Would Stop Looking Frustrated All the Time

This CANNOT be happening.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Donovan must take part of the blame for this bad karma debacle.  

The writing was on the wall.  

Just look at who was in charge, "Shana-Snyd."  

Hard to feel sorry for Donovan now. Here's to landing somewhere more Donovan friendly next year.

Keep the positivity Donovan!

Tom Cable Would Star In A Coors Light Commercial

I'm really a big teddy bear.
Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

I have a soft spot for slightly out of control head coaches running slightly out of control teams that are somewhat successful.

Tom Cable and the Raiders are the poster child for that this year.  

Can you imagine Tom Cable in a Coors Light ad?

"I punched you because of who I thought you were."

John Kitna Would Learn How to Smile...Alot.

Yeah, I'm serious and I smile too.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

All kidding aside, Kitna did a great job this year filling in for the injured Tony Romo. (Kitna smiled some too, probably as a result of hanging with the smile happy Romo, not an illusion.) 

He looked like a different QB.

Credit to Jason Garrett. 

Jon Kitna Would Grow Hair.

Brady got nothin on my dome.
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

John, see the California crew: Polamalu, Matthews Jr., and Brady.

Let your hair grow brother!

Danny Woodhead Would Make It with the Jets

I think I can...
Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Feel good story, NOT for the Jets.

Danny Woodhead Wouldn’t Make It with the Patriots

I knew I could
Elsa/Getty Images

Feel good story for the Patriots.

Terrell Owens Would Be More Focused on Football

lotto bling but no Super Bowl ring
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Come to think of it, why would anyone think that?

Especially teaming up with twitter buddy Ocho Cinco this year!

Carson Palmer Would Really Let Us Know How He Feels About Playing In Cincy

God, can you catch too?
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Always the consummate team player, I think it's time that Carson let his hair down, no pun intended to fellow USC mates Tory and Clay, and let us know how he really feels about being one of the best potential quarterbacks in the league, and unfortunately playing for such a lame team.  

Carson, it's cry on our shoulder time.

It's OK. Really.

Tom Coughlin Would Be Happier

The last of the Lombardi era.
Al Bello/Getty Images

I really thought Coach Coughlin was out the door at the end of 2007-08.  

Crazy and improbable Super Bowl run that year and this team gets stuck with a cranky coach for another five seasons.  

Late season implosion this year by the Giants may curtail Coughlin's stay.

However, he does appear to have nine lives.

Plax in the wings? We shall see what 2011 brings! 

Peyton Manning Would Be More Laid Back

I love what I do, do I really?
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

I thought that the Super Bowl loss to the Saints took it's toll on Peyton earlier this year.  After all, his dad played for the Saints and Peyton grew up in the Big Easy.  All that history must have made it more difficult for Peyton to go into the Super Dome and pull out a win.

After all, he's human.

If anything, I thought that Super Bowl loss would help Peyton realize just that; He's HUMAN.

For too long, the poor guy has been a football robot, a machine.  

Perhaps if he kicked back a bit and enjoyed his job more, he would get a bit more satisfaction from his work.

I don't know, that Super Bowl appears to have done just the opposite, or maybe father time is starting to catch up.

Either way, Peyton will always have place in every football purists heart.

Norv Turner Would Stop Smirking

I'm better than you.
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Those darn Chargers...uggghhhh!

Philip Rivers Would Stop Looking So Cocky

Skip to My Lou?
Nick Laham/Getty Images

What have you done lately Philip!?

X*&@#*#!!  

One too many fist pumps for my taste.

Brad Childress Would Be More Popular With His Players

Not a happy camper...
Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

The question remains: Will Childress every be a Head Coach again?

Brett Favre Didn’t Know the Meaning of “sexting”

The look of a champion.
Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

Did Brett do it or not? Does anyone care?

One thing we know for sure is that it's time for Brett to retire, once and for all.  

This way, hopefully some of his legacy and the respect it deserves will stay in tact.  

End the madness!

And no more pouty face!!