1 Reason Every NFL Team's OTAs Will Be Interesting

The New York Jets are already in the middle of an intense quarterback controversy between Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow as their OTAs begin this summer, though you can't get anyone from the Jets to admit it. This is just one of many interesting story lines as teams prepare for the 2012 NFL season.

There is at least one good reason every team's OTAs will be worth watching, though some teams have more questions that need answering than others. 

Some teams are dealing with new head coaches, while others are presented with the frustrating challenge of heading into training camp without knowing who their starting quarterback will be. Whatever the challenges may be, the NFL is certainly not lacking for intriguing headlines as we head into the months of summer.

Here is the main reason each team's OTAs are going to be interesting.

Arizona Cardinals: Quarterback Competition

Head coach Ken Whisenhunt was recently on Jim Rome's show, Rome, and talked about the quarterback competition brewing for the Cardinals this summer.

According to ProFootballTalk.com, the starting job will go to either Kevin Kolb or John Skelton. 

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They’ve both been working hard at it...I think the knee-jerk reaction would be to say that it is Kevin’s job to lose, Whisenhunt said. But then you have to look at what John Skelton did last year in winning those games when he was in there...So it’s going to start out as even as it possibly can, and we’re going to let the best player take it from there.

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The main thing I'll be keeping my eye out for is how long Whisenhunt will let this competition go on before he makes a decision. If this drags out throughout training camp and into the preseason games, it could get ugly before it's over.

I'm leaning towards Skelton taking the job. He had some excellent showings last year, and that carries a lot of weight in NFL locker rooms. Whoever comes out of this race as the victor will have his hands full dealing with the ever-improving defenses of the NFC West.

Atlanta Falcons: Who Starts at Cornerback?

The Falcons now feature a talented trio of cornerbacks: Asante Samuel, Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes.

General manager Thomas Dimitroff recently spoke to Alex Marvez & Bill Polian of SiriusXM’s Late Hits show about his favorable dilemma: 

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I think I see [Samuel]  playing outside. I think he and Grimes will more than likely be our outside guys. I can see us moving Dunta inside. I know Dunta has wanted to play inside in the nickel spot. He did it out in Houston before he came our way. He’s an aggressive guy who can play the run as well as be aggressive in the pass game. I think it’s going to be a nice mix of talents.

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All three corners are starting-quality players. None of them will be happy coming off the bench. This is going to be an interesting competition to keep an eye on going forward.

Baltimore Ravens: Life Without T-Sizzle

Terrell Suggs won't be playing football any time soon. He's out rehabbing his surgically-repaired Achilles tendon, which means the Ravens have some enormous shoes to fill in his absence until he can return.

This puts the spotlight on rookie Courtney Upshaw. He'll be competing with Paul Kruger, Sergio Kindle and Albert McClellan, according to John Harbaugh, via the Baltimore Sun. 

My money's on Upshaw and Kruger to take the two starting spots, but the competition will be fierce between all four men. OTAs are going to be huge for all of them, as the team must get as acclimated as soon as possible to life without Suggs.

Buffalo Bills: Revamped Defense

The Bills made waves this offseason by acquiring Mario Williams—the crown jewel of free-agency targets in 2012. They also landed Mark Anderson from the New England Patriots to come in as a situational pass-rusher and drafted Stephon Gilmore out of South Carolina in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft.

While there are many returning players, essentially the Bills will be fielding an entirely new defense in 2012. They have the pieces to form a devastating defense, and the groundwork for their success begins now at the OTAs. 

I'm looking forward to the reports as they come out to hear if the new players are acclimating well to their new environment.

Carolina Panthers: Will They Continue to Air It out on Offense?

Cam Newton had a spectacular rookie campaign, but the team didn't utilize some of its best players well enough for my tastes. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart had terrific yards-per-carry averages, but they didn't get enough chances to pound the rock. 

I'm interested to see whether or not the Panthers change their strategy in 2012. 

For my money, teams with the ability to both run and pass the ball stand a far better chance of long-term success throughout the season than teams who are one-sided.

The Panthers would be wise to solidify their running game this summer. If they do, Newton's passing prowess will be darn-near impossible to stop with the added threat of a potent running game.

Chicago Bears: Will They Become a Pass-First Team?

With Matt Forte's contract situation in limbo and the new acquisitions of Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, it's easy to envision the Bears becoming a pass-first team in 2012.

Yes, I'm aware of the fact that they signed bruising running back Michael Bush, but Jay Cutler has got to be chomping at the bit to show he's every bit as good as Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers.

Furthermore, Mike Tice is the team's new offensive coordinator, and he could be bringing back the old offense he used to run when he was the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, according to NFL.com—the same offense that featured Randy Moss and Daunte Culpepper.

It will be interesting to see how much of a passing team they become in 2012, and OTAs are going to be the first preview.

Cincinnati Bengals: Vontaze Burfict

Will Vontaze Burfict be able to keep his ego from popping into the picture and ruining his last chance at making an NFL roster?

Burfict has a lot of work to do to repair his damaged reputation. It was less than a year ago that he was considered to be one of the nation's top prospects at any position, but a string of behavioral issues dropped him out of the 2012 NFL draft altogether. 

He has a tremendous opportunity in front of him, and now it's up to Burfict to determine how far he takes it.

Cleveland Browns: Weeden vs. McCoy

The Browns didn't draft Brandon Weeden to sit on the bench, according to general manager Tom Heckert, via the Plain Dealer.

They expect him to start, but don't look for Colt McCoy to take a demotion lying down. He told the AP that he is going to fight for the job.

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I can just say that I'm working as hard as I can. You never know what to expect. One of my favorite quotes by the Navy Seals is, 'The only easy day was yesterday.' That's just kind of how I have to live right now.

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I'm a big fan of McCoy's, and I know he'll make the decision as hard as he can on his coaches. This quarterback competition will be fun to watch.

Dallas Cowboys: Can Bruce Carter Become Sean Lee's Sidekick?

Jerry Jones dreams of having a defensive dynamic duo at the middle linebacker position much like the San Francisco 49ers have with Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman, and he's hoping Bruce Carter can be Sean Lee's sidekick.

Carter has the best opportunity in the world to become an elite linebacker with the Cowboys this year. They have a ton of veteran talent around him, so the pressure isn't going to fall on his shoulders to be a leader. All he has to do is go out and perform on the field.

We'll see soon enough if he has what it takes.

Denver Broncos: Do I Really Need to Say It?

If Broncos players thought they had it bad last year with Tim Tebow, they haven't seen anything yet. The media is going to swarm them with questions about Peyton Manning throughout OTAs and training camp, as he's one of the hottest stories this year.

The OTAs are going to revolve around Manning. How is he doing? Is he developing bonds with his receivers? Is he going to take orders from Mike McCoy? The list of questions goes on and on.

Manning's presence in Denver is one of the most interesting story lines of the summer.

Detroit Lions: Can Jim Schwartz Establish Order?

The Lions have a disciplinary problem under their head coach, Jim Schwartz. 

Between Titus Young's sucker-punch, Johnny Culbreath's marijuana bust, Mikel Leshoure's two marijuana busts in less than a month and Nick Fairley's two arrests due to marijuana charges and recent DUI, the Lions have a problem, indeed.

Schwartz and the rest of his coaching staff have a huge task ahead of them if they have any hopes of reinventing their image. As far as I'm concerned, the problem starts at the top.

Schwartz's reaction to an overly-exuberant Jim Harbaugh after last year's meeting in Detroit was indicative of the lack of discipline the Lions currently exhibit. It's now up to him to set things right.

Green Bay Packers: Can New Blood Solve Defensive Woes?

The Packers suffered from a league-worst passing defense last year, and many of their problems stemmed from an inability to create a pass-rush. 

As good as Clay Matthews it, he can't do it all by himself. 

Drafting Nick Perry and Jerel Worthy should help out tremendously in this department, but it remains to be seen how well they will perform against top-notch competition.

It won't take long to find out, though, as they will be going against the league's most explosive passing offense on a daily basis in practice. 

Houston Texans: Can Whitney Mercilus Provide a Spark off the Edge?

I haven't been the biggest fan of Whitney Mercilus as a pass-rusher in the NFL. I worry that he may be a one-year wonder. That being said, if anyone can get the most out of his talents it would be Wade Phillips.

I look forward to seeing whether or not Mercilus becomes a force off the edge for Phillips and the Texans on defense. If he does become formidable, it makes their decision to let Mario Williams walk via free agency seem all the more brilliant.

The Texans are going to be a dangerous team in 2012 whether Mercilus becomes a dominant pass-rusher or not. If he becomes a double-digit sack man, they will be downright scary.

Indianapolis Colts: Luck Is on Their Side

Andrew Luck has some massive shoes to fill, but if anyone's capable of stepping in and handling the pressure that comes with following Peyton Manning in Indy, he is.

Luck has a chance to create his own legend, and it starts in OTAs.

He'll have almost as many reporters following him around this summer as Manning will have in Denver, and I have no doubt he'll handle the job with the same professional demeanor we've seen all winter long. 

Jacksonville Jaguars: How Long a Leash Is Blaine Gabbert On?

Blaine Gabbert had a brutal rookie season. I mean, it was ugly and then some.

The Jaguars brought in Chad Henne, and I have a sneaking suspicion Gabbert will be on quite a short leash as OTAs and training camp come around. 

Another interesting thing to watch for at OTAs is how well Justin Blackmon performs. The entire offense will be under heavy scrutiny, and I look forward to reading the reports as they come in.

Kansas City Chiefs: Dontari Poe vs. Offensive Line

Dontari Poe possesses the body to become a dominant big man in the middle of the Chiefs defense. It remains to be seen whether or not he will be able to play at a high level with consistency against NFL offensive linemen.

He will have his hands full going against the offensive linemen of the Chiefs. They are a solid group, and Poe has his work cut out for him going against them on a daily basis.

On a personal note, I want to see Poe succeed. His talents are so rare, and it would be a shame to see them go to waste. Here's hoping he comes through with flying colors.

Miami Dolphins: Who Will Start at QB?

Ryan Tannehill knows the playbook, but reports from owner Stephen Ross suggest he may not be ready to start in 2012, according to the Palm Beach Post. 

There will be an open competition for that spot, with Tannehill fighting with Matt Moore and David Garrard for opportunity to earn the starting quarterback position.

My money is on Moore to win the job, but you never know what can happen once the competition starts heating up over the summer.

Minnesota Vikings: How Will Adrian Peterson's Injury Affect Him Going Forward?

Adrian Peterson is four months removed from tearing his ACL, yet he has recently been blowing by his teammates in footraces, according to 1500ESPN.com.

I'm not surprised Peterson's recovery has come along so swiftly. He is an elite athlete with a strong will to succeed, but I'm a bit concerned he may be pushing himself too hard. If he's not careful, Peterson could be dealing with a relapse sometime soon.

The Vikings need to keep a close eye on their superstar running back. It will be interesting to see how much they allow him to do in the coming months during OTAs. 

New England Patriots: Running Back Battles

Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley will be in a full-blown competition all summer long to see which one of them becomes the starting running back in place of BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

According to the Boston Herald, Vereen was the starter at practice during the team's latest OTAs. That doesn't mean much in the grand scope of things, as I'm sure both players will be given an opportunity to perform, but my money is on Vereen to take the position by the end of the summer. 

Joseph Addai is also in the mix, but he'll likely be more of a third-down back, at best.

New Orleans Saints: No Drew Brees, No Sean Payton

The Saints will have a hard time winning many games this year without Sean Payton and Drew Brees. Payton is already out of the mix, due to his involvement in the bounty scandal, and Brees isn't going to be at OTAs because he's not willing to sign the team's franchise offer.

If I could be a fly on the wall of any front office in the NFL, I would choose the Saints. They have more questions than answers in front of them at this point, and the fallout of their recent actions will have a resounding impact throughout the year.

OTAs will be interesting without two of their key leaders on offense, and I don't know how they plan on generating the same kind of intensity and enthusiasm without these two men.

New York Giants: Will Rueben Randle Be Able to Replace Mario Manningham?

The Giants have developed a reputation for finding top-notch receivers after the first round, and Rueben Randle may very well be their next great pickup.

His arrival couldn't have been more perfectly timed, either. Not only did the team lose Mario Manningham to the San Francisco 49ers via free agency, but Hakeem Nicks' recent broken foot puts more pressure on the rookie to perform.

Randle may very well turn out to be one of the steals of the 2012 NFL draft, and I look forward to hearing about his progress this summer.

New York Jets: Tim Tebow vs. Mark Sanchez

Tim Tebow is going to hound Mark Sanchez all year long. Training camp hasn't even started yet, and the media in New York is already stirring up a quarterback controversy.

If Sanchez falters even one little bit, you can bet the media will jump all over the opportunity to stoke the fires a bit more. 

Sanchez is far and away the better passer, but playing quarterback in the NFL is about so much more than just being able to throw the ball. Tebow possesses all the intangibles necessary to lead a team to victory, despite his horrific results in the passing game at times.

This one is just getting started, folks, and I can't wait to see how it plays out.

Oakland Raiders: Which Carson Palmer Shows Up?

Depending on which Carson Palmer shows up to play in 2012, it won't shock me to see Matt Leinart start some games for the Raiders this year.

I look forward to seeing what Oakland reporters have to say about Palmer's accuracy and decision-making in practice. Last year was horrible for him in both departments, and he'll need to make vast improvements if he hopes to keep his starting job.

Whoever starts at quarterback for the Raiders will certainly have some weapons at his disposal. Perhaps Leinart is the next Jim Plunkett? We'll soon find out.

Philadelphia Eagles: What Can Go Wrong?

LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson are a couple of happy campers with two shiny new contracts. The team doesn't have to answer any more questions about Asante Samuel. They have seemingly solved some of their defensive woes in the middle by drafting Fletcher Cox and Mychal Kendricks and by bringing in DeMeco Ryans. 

So, what could go wrong? This is what I'll be watching this summer as the team enters OTAs and prepares for training camp. 

Things seem altogether too calm and rosy. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: Can Ben Roethlisberger and Todd Haley Get Along?

You know there's trouble brewing when Ben Roethlisberger has to tell reporters there's no trouble between him and new offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

According to CBS Pittsburgh, that's exactly what's happening. 

Big Ben is reportedly on board with Haley...at the moment. But if they start to butt heads later this summer, I won't be surprised in the least.

San Diego Chargers: Adjusting to Life Without Vincent Jackson

Philip Rivers will need to make some major adjustments without his former star wide receiver Vincent Jackson, who left via free agency to sign a lucrative deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The team signed Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal to soften the blow, but it's going to be tough to replace Jackson's production. 

This summer will be a crucial time for Rivers to get in synch with his new receivers. OTAs are vital to learning a new offense, and Royal and Meachem will need to be sharp in 2012 if the Chargers have any hopes of keeping up with the Denver Broncos in the AFC West.

San Francisco 49ers: Competition at Running Back and Wide Receiver

The 49ers had issues at the wide receiver position last year. This year they'll have a different problem. They now have a multitude of talented wideouts, and only five are likely to make the final cut. 

Randy Moss, Mario Manningham and A.J. Jenkins are all new members of the squad, and all three are likely to make the final roster. This leaves one more spot for Michael Crabtree, and then the competition is wide open. 

Then there is the situation with their running backs. 

Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter, LaMichael James, Brandon Jacobs, Anthony Dixon, Rock Cartwright and Cameron Bell are all fighting for likely three or four roster spots. 

This is going to be an interesting summer in Santa Clara.

Seattle Seahawks: Quarterback Competition

The Seahawks are having an open competition between three quarterbacks: Russell Wilson, Tarvaris Jackson and Matt Flynn.

This one could very well get dragged into late summer, and all three quarterbacks seem to have a legitimate chance to land the leading role.

As a 49ers fan, I'm not sure if I'm rooting for or against Wilson. I have a feeling he's going to end up being a good one, though my money's on Flynn taking the job this fall.

St. Louis Rams: Jeff Fisher Is the Man

The Rams are at the beginning of a new era, and Jeff Fisher is going to change the culture of that franchise in a hurry.

I'm intrigued to see how he molds this team in 2012. I don't foresee them having anywhere close to the same kind of embarrassing season as they did last year. 

They will be fiercely competitive, and I believe we'll see a new man when it comes to Sam Bradford. The Rams won't stay down for long under the steady hand of Fisher.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Which Josh Freeman Will They Have in 2012?

Before last year's debacle, Josh Freeman looked to be the next big-time quarterback in the NFC South. 

Offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan told SiriusXM Sports Radio that Freeman must improve his decision-making in 2012. Heck, I could have told you that, but it's a good thing his coaches see it, too.

Freeman must get back to playing well again, or he will not be playing much in 2012. New head coach Greg Schiano isn't going to put up with foolish turnovers.

Freeman can put a lot of this to rest early on by performing well in OTAs. If he can start to build confidence under those conditions, it will be easier for him to do the same later on in training camp and throughout preseason.

Tennessee Titans: Jake Locker Pushing for a Starting Job over Matt Hasselbeck

Matt Hasselbeck isn't being handed the starting quarterback spot on the Titans roster. Jake Locker is going to challenge him every step of the way.

Head coach Mike Munchak has opened up the door for Locker to overtake his mentor, according to FoxSportsTennessee.com.

This is going to be one of the closest competitions of the year, in my mind. Locker has all the tools to become an elite quarterback in the NFL, but Hasselbeck is a savvy vet who won't be overtaken easily. 

Good stuff. My money's on Hasselbeck to keep his job unless he's injured at some point and Locker is just going nuts in a good way.

Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III

The Redskins wasted no time in letting everyone know that Robert Griffin III would be their opening day starter. As if Rex Grossman had a chance.

The biggest question on everyone's mind isn't whether or not RG3 will succeed in the NFL in the future. People in Washington want to know how good the Redskins can be this year with him behind center.

Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com reported from Washington recently that Griffin's veteran teammates are practically gushing over their rookie signal-caller. Santana Moss reportedly said that Griffin's accuracy is "pinpoint."

It's going to be interesting to keep track of RG3's progress throughout OTAs and into training camp.

Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all the latest breaking news, analysis and opinion as the NFL season gets going this summer.

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