What We Learned from the NFL Preseason

Thankfully, the next time we watch football, it'll be the regular season.

You can only watch third-string quarterbacks play so much before wanting to rip your eyes out of your head, and I think it's safe to say we all hit that level in Week 4. 

Looking back, however, it's important to think about some of the takeaways we had this preseason. Some are about players or teams, but others are just league-wide observations and issues larger than just preseason. Events, such as the conclusion of Deflategate, finally came and have sent a ripple effect through the league.

If you have a preseason observation to share, comment below and make your case. One thing is for certain, Thursday night's regular-season opener is long overdue.

10. Blair Walsh Forgot How to Do His Job

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And the kick is ... NO GOOD!

Whether it's preseason or the regular season, kicking field goals remains the same. It doesn't matter who is playing opposite you, you gear up and let it fly. Blair Walsh failed miserably.

The Minnesota Vikings kicker was 5-of-11 this preseason, missing field goals of 49, 48, 48, 43, 38 and 35 yards.

It was a concerning trend for a kicker who connected on a career-low 74.3 percent of his attempts last season and still managed to earn a four-year extension worth up to $14 million.

Now, with the extra point pushed back, Walsh isn't even a lock to connect on those anymore. The Vikings should definitely be concerned, and Walsh needs to start strong out of the gate to ease their minds. If he shows he can be the reliable stud he was as a rookie, then they can finally breathe easily.

Right now, however, they should be holding their breath every time he steps back to kick.

9. The Saints Have Defensive Concerns

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It may be another long year for the Saints and coach Sean Payton.

Since the New Orleans Saints finished fourth in the league in defense in 2010, their next-best ranking was No. 24. Their poor stretch of defensive play hit rock bottom in 2012, when they finished last in the league. They ranked No. 31 last season, and if preseason is any indicator of future performance, it'll be another long year for the group.

The Saints gave up 121 points in the preseason, which was second most to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

For years, the Saints have been prided on their spread offense which is lethal at home and puts incredible numbers on the scoreboard. Now, with quarterback Drew Brees 36 years old and a declining group of weapons around him, it isn't a lock that the Saints will be an offensive juggernaut anymore.

Sure, Mark Ingram looks like he can be a No. 1 back, and they have what appears to be a top-flight receiver in Brandin Cooks. Still, tight end Jimmy Graham, running back Pierre Thomas and wide receiver Kenny Stills departing will hurt the offense.

In fairness, it was only preseason. 

Let's give this Saints D a little time to come together before judging it. After all, the Saints had a solid offseason, adding cornerbacks Brandon Browner and Kyle Wilson to help with pass protection.

8. It's a Shame Martavis Bryant Is Suspended

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Martavis Bryant is set to become a major weapon for the Steelers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the best running backs in Le'Veon Bell and one of the best wide receivers in Antonio Brown. Giving Ben Roethlisberger another incredible weapon like Martavis Bryant actually isn't fair.

Bryant showcased his skills in preseason, his best game coming in Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills. Showing off his big-play ability, Bryant ripped off 138 yards on just three receptions, the longest of which came on a 63-yard bomb down the right sideline on Michael Vick's first pass with the team. 

As a rookie, Bryant has eight touchdowns on just 29 catches. He also averaged 21.1 yards per reception, showing off his big-play ability and giving the Steelers another deep threat. He's poised to have a huge season for Pittsburgh, but will have to wait until Week 5 to get going.

Suspended the first four games due to a violation of the league's substance-abuse policy, Bryant will be stripped of a quarter of his sophomore season right off the bat. 

It's a real shame, as he could become one of the most fun players to watch this season.

Hopefully Bryant can right the ship and stay out of trouble moving forward. Other exciting wide receivers, such as Josh Gordon and Justin Blackmon, never could get on the right track, and it cost them their careers.

7. Jarryd Hayne Should Be Everyone's Favorite Player

If you're tired of all of the negative storylines around the league and are looking for a new favorite player, look no further than new San Francisco 49ers running back Jarryd Hayne. 

Hayne, a former Rugby League star, finished as the preseason's second-leading rusher with 175 yards. He averaged seven yards per carry, added three catches out of the backfield and made his presence felt on special teams as well.

His greatest preseason highlight, shown in the video above, displayed his brute force, as Hayne absolutely lit up a defender who tried to come his way. His strength and physicality alone are reasons to like him, but when you factor in his fascinating back story and gamble to come into the NFL, he's hard not to root for.

Hayne is a throwback NFL player who represents the toughness sometimes lacking in the new-style league. Hopefully he carves out a sizeable role with the 49ers this season.

6. Tim Tebow Can Throw the Ball but It Doesn't Matter

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Tebow showcased his skills in preseason.

Everything regarding Tim Tebow is always a debate, and there's no more controversial topic than analyzing whether Tebow can actually throw the football. It's a major requirement of being a quarterback, and his naysayers use this argument as the main staple of their "Tebow shouldn't be in the NFL" case. 

Here's the deal, though. In the preseason, Tebow showed he was more than just a Wildcat quarterback who needs a special playbook.

Tebow completed 58.3 percent of his passes, with his best game coming in Week 4. He totaled 189 yards and threw for two touchdowns against the New York Jets, including a 45-yard bomb down the middle to Freddie Martino.

Though he wasn't facing cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, his performance was very encouraging nonetheless. He has worked hard at his mechanics and hasn't given up his dream. 

Regardless of preseason performance and the Matt Barkley trade, the Philadelphia Eagles still cut Tebow. This is further evidence that preseason stats don't really matter, which is unfortunate for Tebow, who will likely never get another chance in the NFL.

5. The Washington Redskins Are a Total Mess

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At some point you have to feel bad for RGIII.

Everything about the Washington Redskins screams controversy.

From their infamous team name saga to their GM's wife directing vulgar comments at a reporter, the Redskins are actually embarrassing. Oh, and there's been a gruesome quarterback competition brewing for several seasons now. 

Forget the fact that the Redskins haven't won a playoff game since 2005 and are just 7-25 over the last two seasons. The issues with this franchise go far beyond just wins and losses. It's unfortunate, because the Redskins are one of the league's most storied franchises and have one of the greatest fanbases as well.

It's likely a long and hard path back to respectability, but it'll likely need to come from the top, where ownership seems to be failing at every possible turn. 

The Redskins will try to pull themselves out of the grave they've dug, with Kirk Cousins under center, which is likely an uphill battle to say the least.

4. Nobody Beats Tom Brady

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Tom Brady's reaction (probably) when he heard the court ruling.

Earlier this week, we found out two key things.

1. Peyton Manning isn't the only person who can't beat Tom Brady.

2. Brady is also invincible off the field. 

By winning the Deflategate case and having his four-game suspension overturned, Brady single-handedly changed the fate of the entire AFC and also cast another dark shadow on the NFL. 

His victory was monumental, showing that commissioner Roger Goodell abused his power, as evident in Judge Richard Berman's ruling. Moreover, it certified that the Patriots would once again run away with the AFC East and would be Super Bowl contenders yet again. 

"He [Brady] represents everything that is great about this game and this league," Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement, per Sports Illustrated.

He's actually right.

Do you realize how ridiculous it is to drag a future Hall of Famer's name through the mud for months as punishment for a "scandal" about air pressure? Seriously. If you want to avoid this situation again, don't allow anyone to pick their own balls. Each team uses the same ball, and if the referee decides it is too wet, slick, heavy or light, the team can swap it out at its discretion.

Any way you cut it, Deflategate didn't have to go down the way it did. The handling was ugly, shameful and pathetic, and it's finally justified now that Brady won. Pending the NFL's appeal, he can laugh in the league's face and continue on down his merry path to Canton.

3. Health Really Is the Main Concern

Although every team wants to get their players some work, the main goal is to emerge from preseason without any major injuries to significant players. 

The Green Bay Packers, however, failed at that goal.

Wide receiver Jordy Nelson, who tore his ACL (video above), reminded everyone around the league just what the main objective should be during preseason. Was it worth having Nelson catch that meaningless pass in an exhibition game to lose him for the season?

Don't downplay the loss of Nelson, either.

I understand Aaron Rodgers is one of the game's few remaining elite quarterbacks and could likely carry any team to the postseason, but Nelson was entering this year coming off back-to-back seasons with over 1,300 yards. His production will be hard to replace, and it will put even more pressure on Randall Cobb to duplicate his breakout season from a year ago.

I'm not going to sit here and tell you the Packers are done without Nelson, but his injury puts things into perspective as far as what really counts in preseason.

2. Preseason Should Be Cut to Two Games

If you can sit through an entire NFL preseason game, the team should reward you with a beer voucher, redeemable at any point in the regular season.

Seriously, these games are brutal.

Starters play about one drive the first game and usually don't see the field at all in the fourth. Why is the NFL wasting our time?

Sure, Week 4 usually decides position battles and roster cuts, but not in all cases. Tebow, who played the majority of Week 4 against the Jets and had a great game, was still cut. If he was on the bubble and was playing for a job heading into Week 4, he would have made the team. 

I actually feel bad for fans sitting in the stands during a Week 4 preseason game who actually paid for their ticket. The games are boring from even before kickoff, as the highlight is likely "Hell's Bells" by AC/DC blasting through the stadium speakers right before game time. 

As teams have begun to practice against each other more frequently during training camp, the need for four televised preseason games has become unnecessary. 

If it's a money issue, just add two more games onto the regular season, when stadiums will be packed to capacity. Then, if season-ending injuries happen, it'll feel a little more reassuring knowing the player wasn't lost in a meaningless game.

As salaries rise and the amount of guaranteed money becomes greater, teams will start playing their projected starters even less, if that's even possible.

The days of four preseason and 16 regular-season games are nearing their end. Put us out of our misery and make it two and 18 already.

1. The NFL Needs a New Commissioner

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It's been a long year for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

You can't spell Roger Goodell without "God." 

As true as it may be, that doesn't make the current NFL commissioner holier than thou, or divine or omnipotent.

Although his ability to hang onto his job during these remarkable scandals is truly impressive, it's about time he goes.

The NFL has endured it's worst calendar year ever. Although it is making more money than ever and has become a business empire, the Goliath that is the league has taken so many public relations shots that it looks like a proverbial slice of swiss cheese.

The major scandals, such as the Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson sagas and the infamous Deflategate court ruling, have made the NFL appear to be nothing more than a joke. The off-the-field issues appear to have become more abundant throughout the league, with new suspensions being handed down every day.

It isn't to say that Goodell's job isn't very difficult or that he's the cause of these scandals. It does say, however, that he isn't very good at handling them. 

Players around the league are always unsure of what exactly their punishment will be, as it seems to fluctuate depending on Goodell's mood. 

Jets' DT Sheldon Richardson confirmed as much to Kimberly Martin of Newsday.

"I don't know what to expect," Richardson said about the looming suspension the league will hand down to him. "That's out of my hands. Whatever happens happens ... I can go from four games to however long he [Goodell] wants it to be. So it's pretty tough.''

The suspensions throughout the NFL have become ridiculous, and it seems as if the storylines are always negative and having to do with issues off the field and how they were handled rather than the actual on-field product.

If the league would start losing money due to all of these issues and mishandlings, the game would clean up much faster. The NFL continues to roll along, however, making this process slow and painful. Maybe a change at commissioner would bring about change through the league as well.