NFL: 10 Biggest Questions Going into 2012 NFL Season

Amazingly enough, the 2012-13 NFL season is creeping up on us. Teams have begun practicing and getting set to make a run at the Super Bowl.

Similar to every offseason, this NFL offseason has been exciting and filled with some shocking moments. Those exciting moments make the NFL fan yearn for the season to start.

Here is a look at the 10 biggest questions and things to look for going into the upcoming season.

Will Cam Newton's Success Translate to Wins?

Cam Newton proved all his critics wrong in his rookie season. Last season he was the Rookie of the Year, made the Pro Bowl, set the NFL rushing touchdown record for quarterbacks, broke Peyton Manning's record of 3,739 yards passing for a rookie, and became the first rookie QB to throw for over 4,000 yards.

With all those accomplishments, the Carolina Panthers were only 6-10. They started the season 2-8, but ended strong by winning four out of their last six games. That could be a sign that the Panthers are poised to do a lot better this coming season.

Can Cam Newton's early success continue into his sophomore season and translate to team success?

Can Tony Romo and the Cowboys Finally Take the Next Step?

One of the biggest debates is whether Tony Romo is an elite quarterback. Each year there are high expectations for Romo and his Dallas Cowboys, but each year they fail to reach them.

The Cowboys had a strong draft and are poised to make a strong run towards the Super Bowl.

Is Romo finally ready to lead Dallas to the championship, or will he and the Cowboys be a disappointment again?

What Is Going to Happen with Some of the Top Running Backs?

There is a lot going on with the top running backs in the league. Some are holding out, some are recovering from injury, and some are trying to get back to their old form.

Matt Forte and Ray Rice were both looking for long-term contracts and both were given franchise tags. These are two of the top backs in football and will most likely hold out until they are given a satisfying contract. Having these two guys hold out could be detrimental to their team's offense and success.

Adrian Peterson has been one of the most dominant offensive players over the last five seasons. However, he tore his ACL and MCL last season and is in the process of recovering from those injuries. It is unclear whether he will be 100 percent when the season starts, or if he will be able to get back to the player he was before the serious injuries.

Chris Johnson rushed for over 2,000 yards in 2009 but has had back to back mediocre seasons. He held out for a little last season and the Titans gave him top running back money. Johnson is looking to get back to being a 2,000 yard rusher and earning his contract.

How Will the Bounty Scandal Affect the Saints?

This offseason, the New Orleans Saints went from a team that everyone could root for, to a team that everyone despises because of the bounty scandals.

Over the last three seasons the Saints have been among the top teams in football, including a Super Bowl victory. 

But because of the bounty scandals, head coach Sean Payton and Jonathan Vilma were suspended for the entire season, along with many other suspensions to coaches, front office managers and players.

How will these suspensions and this scandal effect the Saints and their success next season?

Is This Drew Brees' Last Year in New Orleans?

Drew Brees helped bring a Super Bowl to New Orleans in a time when they needed something to lift their spirits. He will always be a hero to the city of New Orleans. 

Brees is coming off a record-breaking season, and was looking for a long-term contract. However, talks between Brees and the Saints have started to get ugly. They have gone back and forth in discussions and are apparently around $1 million apart. The Saints also slapped the franchise tag on Brees, which did not make him very happy. 

Could these ugly contract negotiations cause Brees to have interest in playing somewhere else? Is the relationship between Brees and the Saints so damaged that this is his last year in New Orleans? Could the bounty scandal have a bigger role in Brees' future with the Saints then we thought?

What Team Is Going to Get Hot Late?

The last two Super Bowl winners were won by teams that got hot late in the season. The New York Giants and Green Bay Packers rode their late season success to Super Bowl victories.

Could that happen again this season?

Who Was the Right Pick, Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III?

The first two picks in this past NFL draft were quarterbacks. The Indianapolis Colts selected Andrew Luck with the first pick and Robert Griffin III was selected second by the Washington Redskins. 

In the last 20 years, two quarterbacks were taken with the first two picks in the draft only three times. Each time, one quarterback became a success and the other was a bust.

In 1993, the Patriots selected Drew Bledsoe with the first pick and the Seattle Seahawks took Rick Mirer with the second pick. In 1998, the Colts selected Peyton Manning and the Chargers took Ryan Leaf. In 1999, the Cleveland Browns selected Tim Couch and the Philadelphia Eagles took Donovan McNabb.

Up until the draft and even still, people are debating which quarterback was the best choice for the Indianapolis Colts. Time will tell which player was the best long-term pick, but it will be interesting to see this season which player was the best short-term option.

Can Mark Sanchez Survive Tebowmania?

The New York Jets have been a controversial team since Rex Ryan took over as head coach. This offseason they expressed interest in Peyton Manning even though they already had Mark Sanchez as their quarterback.

After being unsuccessful in acquiring Manning, they gave Sanchez a contract extension.

Following that, they shocked the NFL when they made a trade for phenom "quarterback" Tim Tebow. The Jets tried to clear up any speculation by saying that Tebow will be the backup, but will also be used for specific plays.

The issue with this is, the second Sanchez starts to struggle a little, the "Tebowmaniacs" are going to push for Tebow to be the starter. We saw it in Denver, are we going to see it in New York? Can Sanchez outlast the pressure of Tebow and "Tebowmania?"

Is Peyton Manning Still Peyton Manning?

If it weren't for the Saints bounty scandal, Peyton Manning's move to Denver would easily be the biggest thing to happen this offseason.

Manning missed the entire season last year because of a neck injury and it is unknown whether he is fully recovered from it.

After spending his entire Hall of Fame career with the Indianapolis Colts, Manning is heading to a new team.

Everyone will be watching to see whether Peyton Manning is still Peyton Manning.

Will the Patriots Ever Win Again with Tom Brady?

Tom Brady is easily in the top five best quarterbacks in the league today. Some will also argue that he is in the top five greatest quarterbacks of all time.

He led the Patriots to three Super Bowl championships in the early 2000's. However, he has failed to bring the Super Bowl trophy back to New England since 2005. In his last two Super Bowl appearances, he is 0-2, losing both times to the New York Giants.

Brady is 34 years old. While he still has plenty of game left, his window of winning another championship is starting to close. 

It will be interesting to see how Brady and the Patriots react to losing the Super Bowl and whether the Patriots will ever win another Super Bowl with Brady as their quarterback.