10 Big Names in the NFL That Could Actually Lose in a 2012 Training Camp Battle

LeGarrette Blount, Matt Hasselbeck and Kevin Kolb may lose their jobs this summer when NFL training camps commence, but they aren't the only big-name players who may suffer this fate.

The NFL is a "what have you done for me lately," high-stakes game where sentiment and history rarely come into play when determining rosters in training camp.

Players who have filled big roles for their teams in the past don't always get the benefit of the doubt going forward. Teams are constantly doing their utmost to upgrade their rosters—no matter who gets burned along the way.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the big names that might actually lose training camp battles for the 2012 NFL season.

Nate Kaeding, San Diego Chargers

Nate Kaeding is the most accurate kicker in the history of the NFL, hitting on 86.5 percent of all attempts during the course of his career, according to ProFootballReference.com. 

Unfortunately for him and the San Diego Chargers, Kaeding also has a tendency to get a big case of the yips once the postseason rolls around. For that reason, he's in a full scale training camp battle with Nick Novak for the team's kicking duties, according to ESPN.com's Bill Williamson.

It's hard to imagine Kaeding losing his starting spot, but kickers are a strange breed. He's coming off of a significant knee injury to his non-kicking leg, and I won't be shocked to see him lose his spot if he struggles to get back to form.

Rashean Mathis, Jacksonville Jaguars

Rashean Mathis has been a cornerstone member of the Jacksonville Jaguars defense for the past nine years. He's one of their most consistent performers and is a team leader, but after destroying his knee last year he's in danger of losing his starting spot to Aaron Ross.

According to John Oehser of Jaguars.com:

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At defensive back, I’d say the primary position battle will be at cornerback between Rashean Mathis and Aaron Ross. If Mathis is healthy, I’d expect him to start with Ross playing the nickel. If Mathis is slow to come back from the ACL once pads are on, then Ross could start with Mathis working his way at the nickel.

"

Ross and Mathis are both going to see plenty of action during the season, but I see Ross beating out Mathis, regardless of whether or not his knee is healthy. Ross is younger, a bit faster and more instinctive in the passing game. 

Mathis is a true pro, though, and even if he is demoted this summer, he won't stop playing his butt off for the Jaguars going forward.

Lofa Tatupu, Atlanta Falcons

After the Atlanta Falcons lost Curtis Lofton to the New Orleans Saints, they went out and got Lofa Tatupu to fill the void. 

Tatupu isn't far removed from being one of the brightest young stars at the middle linebacker position in the NFL, though last year was a lost cause. He'll have to beat out youngster Akeem Dent this summer to get a chance to prove that last year was an aberration, though, according to the Boston Globe's Greg A. Bedard.

Dent is the team's third-round pick from a year ago, and he's a nice-looking athlete who can cover a lot of space in the open field. He'll push Tatupu to the brink, and it'll be interesting to see which one of them impresses new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan enough to warrant the starting spot.

LaRon Landry, New York Jets

The New York Jets were atrocious last year at the safety position, so they went out and landed two big-time players, Yeremiah Bell and LaRon Landry.

Landry is coming off a devastating Achilles tendon injury that kept him out of last year, though, and he'll have to compete with Eric Smith for the starting strong safety position, according to ESPN.com's James Walker.

Landry fits the mold of what Rex Ryan likes to do with his safeties more than Smith. He is adept at getting to the quarterback on blitzes, and he is one of the bigger hitters in the NFL when it comes to the passing game. 

That said, Smith is the incumbent starter, and Landry has his work cut out for him if he hopes to overtake him on the Jets roster.

Dan Connor, Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are looking for an elite player to pair with Sean Lee at the middle linebacker position in their 3-4 defense. Last year, Bradie James and Keith Brooking split time in that role, but neither one will be with the club in 2012.

As a way of creating competition for unproven but highly touted second-year man Bruce Carter, Jerry Jones brought in Dan Connor from the Carolina Panthers, according to the Dallas Morning News.

This is going to be a whale of a training camp battle. 

Connor is an instinctive, productive player who can immediately step in and start. Carter, on the other hand, hasn't had the chance as of yet to prove he can play with the big boys. There's no doubting his potential, but he needs to prove it this summer.

I expect Carter to outshine Connor this preseason. He has more speed and athleticism, and as long as his knee continues to hold up, he will take the starting spot.

Bart Scott, New York Jets

Bart Scott has been a mainstay in the middle of Rex Ryan's defense since 2005. He has been one of the league's most underrated defenders since that time, and much of the success Ryan has had can be attributed to Scott's strong play.

Unfortunately, Scott's abilities on the field aren't what they used to be, and he's in danger of losing his starting spot to rookie Demario Davis. 

Earlier this year, Rex Ryan said Davis reminded him of Ray Lewis, according to The Star-Ledger.

His speed, athleticism and leadership during training camp and throughout preseason will force the Jets to demote one of their most-tenured leaders. 

And that's not a bad thing.

Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers

Donald Driver has accomplished more than anyone ever thought he would after entering the NFL as an seventh-round draft pick way back in 1999. Many wondered if he'd retire after the 2011 season, but Driver isn't finished playing out his dream just yet, and he will be back for another season in 2012.

That doesn't necessarily mean he'll see tons of action, though.

In fact, according to ProFootballWeekly.com, it's not a foregone conclusion that Driver will even make the roster:

"

But team sources tell us that the growing dilemma of providing enough opportunities for both Driver and the very talented — and considerably younger — trio of Randall Cobb, Tori Gurley and Diondre Borel could still put Driver squarely on the bubble once final roster cutdowns have to be made.

"

I'm betting on Driver to earn one of those coveted roster spots, but the battle will be fierce. Cobb, Gurley and Borel are all hungry young players that aren't going to let up on the old man for a second. 

LeGarrette Blount, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

LeGarrette Blount is one of the league's best young power backs. He has embarrassed some of the best defenses in the league with his ability to run defenders into the ground—except, of course, the San Francisco 49ers.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a new sheriff in town, though, and head coach Greg Schiano has made it known that Blount's tendency to cough the ball up at times—nine times in his two seasons as a pro—won't be tolerated, saying, "No one who touches the football will get touches if they don't protect the football," according to ESPN.com.

Then, the team drafted Doug Martin out of Boise State in the first round of the draft. He's done nothing but impress the coaching staff since then, according to Scott Reynolds of PewterReport.com, and I predict he'll be the opening-day starter for the Buccaneers.

Matt Hasselbeck, Tennessee Titans

Matt Hasselbeck has never gotten enough public recognition for being an excellent NFL quarterback who led the Seattle Seahawks to six playoff appearances and a Super Bowl. 

He also did a fine job last year for the Tennessee Titans, and according to Arthur Arkush of ProFootballWeekly.com, he is the front-runner to be their starting quarterback again this year over Jake Locker.

Locker will push him hard this summer, though, and the Titans will have a tough decision to make. 

Will they take Mr. Consistency or will they bank on the elite athleticism and arm of an unproven youngster?

Don't be surprised if Locker ends up "winning" this battle.

Kevin Kolb, Arizona Cardinals

Kevin Kolb. 

John Skelton.

Which one will start for the Arizona Cardinals Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks?

To this point, nobody knows. Not even head coach Ken Whisenhunt, who told the Arizona Republic's Kent Somers, "If it was up to me, I'd prefer we had a quarterback resolution two years ago. But obviously that hasn't happened."

My prediction: Kolb is going to lose out this summer to Skelton, who has a better arm and can stretch the field better with Larry Fitzgerald—not to mention he's better in the clutch.

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