2010 NFL Training Camps: What Has Surprised Us Thus Far?

For many sports fans, they look forward to many events during the year.  They'll watch the World Series, the Stanley Cup playoffs, a World Cup and of course the Super Bowl.  For them, the sports calendar has many events to look forward to.

But for those other fans, that eat, breathe and live football, they watch the Super Bowl, and immediately look forward to two dates:  the draft and the opening of training camp!

While many of us are escaping the heat for the beach, or the lake, our favorite gladiators are coming to camp, practicing two times a day, and getting ready to entertain us for another exciting season.

As always, there are many uncertainties going into this 2010 season.  Can the Saints repeat?  Can the Jets back up their never ending talk?  Can the 49'ers finally break over the hurdle?  And just how long will it take for Tim Tebow to regrow his hair?

With the Hall Of Fame game now behind us, the preseason schedule is about to begin full swing.  As training camps enter their second and in some cases even third weeks, here has been some of the more surprising developments we have seen.

The T.O. show comes to Cincy!

While this technically did not occur at training camp, it had to be a bit of a surprise to see the Cincinatti Bengals bring in a receiver who not only is potentially over the hill, but could also be a cancer.  While it is all smiles in Bengal land right now, there is a tremendous amount of uncertainty with how this experiment will go.  Could Owens provide more single coverage for Chad Ochocinco?  Or will there be friction between the two, with Owens becoming Ochouno and the team falling apart?  This is the risk taken by the Bengals front office, one many people felt was unecessary.

The saga of "Fat" Albert Haynesworth

While this topic, has been talked to death, it has been a bit of a surprise just to see how ugly this has become in Washington.  Just how much attention has the battle between Haynesworth and coach Mike Shannahan drawn?  There is hardly anyone talking about a potential future Hall of Famer in Donovan McNabb leading this offense behind a rushing attack that looks like the entire 2006 rushing leader board in Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson and Willie Parker.

Just two seasons ago, Haynesworth was being talked about as a possible NFL MVP, being the linchpin of the Tennessee Titan's defense.  He now has become a laughing stock with a coach that doesn't trust him, a team that doesn't like him, and a fan base that would like nothing more than to see him leave their club.

The $50 million man.

When the 2010 NFL season ends, the signing bonus in Sam Bradford's contract could be a prime example of why fans see their sport go into a lockout.  While there are numerous reasons why there is the possibility fans will see no football in 2011, the amount of guaranteed money rookies now get is a big one.

Bradford, whose last two college games ended up with him leaving the field injured received a staggering $50 million in gauranteed money, nearly doubling the amount 2006 #1 pick Mario Williams got.  It's clear that the wages are out of control, not to mention it is making it nearly impossible for any of these rookies to live up to their contracts.

Just how bad have these contracts become?  I ask you to find another sport where a team wouldn't want to trade up for the top draft pick. 

Dallas's new Cowboy becomes the first first round pick to sign

As training camp approached, there was a growing fear that many first round draft picks would have long holdouts, given the uncertainty of the possible 2011 lockout.  There were some who felt Dez Bryant would be a perfect player to holdout, someone who had the talent to be a top ten draft pick but dropped into the laps of the Dallas Cowboys late in the first round.

However, Bryant surprised everyone by not only coming to camp on time, but by becoming the first first round pick to sign.  Cowboy fans immediately got excited by seeing his potential on the field, with rumors he would immediately be inserted as the teams second wide receiver behind Miles Austin.

The excitement though was tempered however when Bryant sprained his ankle in the second week of camp. 

*Note:  Photo is courtesy of dallascowboystimes.com*

How "The Island" might be all by himself in 2010

Darrelle Revis was a man last year that never seemed to lose his smile.  After all, the All-Pro cornerback made a huge splash in 2009, becoming the best player at his position last year.  He was so good in fact that most teams gave up throwing towards him, allowing his coach Rex Ryan to say that he was his own island.

Unfortounately, his nickname may be becoming even more appropriate as a contract dispute has kept him out of training camp.  That in it of itself is not a suprirse.  Holdouts happen all the time of course.

What IS the surprise is the Jets, whom publically said they wanted to give Revis an extension, appear to be surprised that their player wants to be the highest paid cornerback int he league.  It has now gotten to the point that the Jets are saying they're prepared to go on this year Revis.

While I doubt they truly mean that, it's still a bit of a shock to see Revis, who seemed like a player destined for great things this year, could possibly sit out this season.

darrelle revisD

Elvis has left the building

What a difference a few weeks make!

Entering training camp, Elvis Dumervil, the 2009 sack leader had to feel like he was on top of the world, after signing a $61 million contract extension.  However that top of the world feeling came to a screeching halt last week for he and his team when he tore a pectoral muscle that cuold cause him to miss the entire season.

It's a tough time right now in Denver.  With a coach the fans don't necessarily trust, a team that flamed out after a great start last season, and questions at their future at quarterback, they could not afford losing their best defensive player. 

For now though, Elvis has left Mile High for the physical therapist. 

An unhappy Brady?

For nearly a decade, Tom Brady and the Patriots ruled the NFL.  With the smile of a male model but a small town humble personality, Brady has led the Patriots to three Super Bowls, and was mere seconds away from completing the most dominating season in NFL history. 

But there is word right now that Tom Brady wants a contract extension, and the Patriots thus far have been unwilling to offer him one.  You can chalk this up also to the uncertain future of a 2011 NFL season.

While Brady has kept everything professional, there are a lot of rumors that Brady is not a happy camper right now.   With a team in transition, an unhappy Brady is something the Patriots should do their best to avoid. 

What QB controversy?

It seems as if it has become a tradition to enter training camp season and have at least one, and usually numerous teams going through quarterback controversy's.  Either a team brings in two veterans, or some team has a rookie that the public wants to see in action in week one.  But for what is the first time since I can remember, this year seems to be one in which most teams have a very good idea of who will be taking the opening day snap. 

Why is that you may ask?

I can offer a few reasons.  As for the rookies, there was only two, Bradford, and Tebow who were taken in the first round.  And most people in the world not named Josh McDaniels believed Tebow was no better than a 2nd round pick. 

In St. Louis, without a good backup and the fact most people perceive the Rams biggest strength to be its offensive line, a lot of people are penciling Bradford as the starter.   The other high profiled quarterbacks of Tebow, Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy seem to be making no stink about starting the year on the bench.

The other factor is there seems to be a growing separation of have vs. have not's in the quarterback position.   It seemed a few years ago there was a lot of 1A vs 1B battles.  Today it seems as if a lot of teams are stuck with 1B's and 2A's.  

Therefore the word controversy isn't being associated with the QB's this year. 

Is Aaron Rodgers THIS good?

If you're to believe all the hype, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees need to watch out for a new sheriff coming to town.  It seemed like an eternity for Aaron Rodgers to finally get his chance in Green Bay in 2008, and while his team struggled to a 6-10 finished, many people saw the QB's potential.

Now, coming off an 11-5 season, one in which Rodgers put up MVP-esque numbers, he is quickly becoming a household name, with every sports magazine seemingly going gaga over the Packers franchise player.  It is a big surprising having so many people seemingly rank up as one of the top four quarterbacks in football.  I have to personally ask if it's because he truly is this good or if it's because he's been a fantasy football darling. 

The question is, can Rodgers live up to the hype being bestowed upon him.  Is the third year quarterback really going to be one of the true elite quarterbacks?  If he is, the Packers have a legitimate chance of hoisting the trophy named after their famous coach. 

Brett Favre contemplating retirement? You don't say!

Be careful, this is perhaps the most surprising story this training camp!  No silly, it's not the fact that Brett Favre is once again holding a team hostage by playing the annual "Will I or won't I play" game.   On the contrary, it was incredibly surprising to see how many members of the media and the league acted like it was this shock that Brett Favre once again announced he was unsure of his decision.

You would think after six seasons of this game, that people would become tone deaf from it.  In fact, most fans have, which begs the question if Favre was so attention starved that he felt the need to get the spotlight back on him a few weeks ago. 

The media fell for the story hook line and sinker with ESPN once again devoting an entire day of Brett Favre memories and former teammates and rivals giving their take on the legend.  But wouldn't you know it, just a day later, Favre then announced he would play if he was healthy.

Maybe next year, the media, and most notably ESPN will stop shoving this player down our throats, because if you read most blogs and comments from NFL fans, they're sick of it. 

But as for now, the Minnesota Vikings and its fans get to wait until the predictable Favre announces in the next two weeks he'll be coming back once again.