NFL Preseason: Too Much Drama! The Top 12 Storylines of 2010
There was a time when the NFL preseason was not something that made many headlines other than in the local newspapers, and even now the ratings on preseason games aren't worth talking about.
However, between increased fan interest through fantasy football leagues and the rise of the Internet, preseason football has taken on its own life and vibe in the sporting world.
There have been several huge stories to follow as the preseason has played out, and here's a look at what has been dominating NFL headlines the past month.
Denver Broncos: The Tim Tebow Show
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Tim Tebow has been everything the NFL wants him to be so far. Strong, charismatic, and in the headlines for all the right reasons.
Whether or not Tim Tebow takes a snap in 2010, he'll continue to be a story as the season continues. His personality and situation have taken on a life of their own.
Love him or hate him, everyone has an opinion, and everyone wants to voice it or read about it. Tebow is everything a marketing person ever dreamed of.
New York Jets: The Darrelle Revis Holdout
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Darrelle Revis has decided he wants to be the highest-paid safety in the league, and is prepared to lose a lot of money this year to make that happen.
This holdout definitely will stretch into the regular season at this point, barring an abrupt turnaround on the Jets part.
If the Jets get off to a slow start, especially if they're losing games because the secondary is giving up yards, expect that abrupt turnaround to result in Revis getting everything he wants.
If the Jets win in spite of Revis, then things could get very interesting.
San Diego Chargers: Speaking Of Holdouts, Vincent Jackson Is Conducting One As Well
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Vincent Jackson said he is prepared to hold out for the entire 2010 season if he doesn't get a new long-term contract from the Chargers.
The Chargers appear to have no interest in renegotiating his contract, and Jackson's two DUI's are being cited as one reason why the team is unwilling to deal at this point.
While Jackson proved last year he is an elite wide receiver, the upcoming collective bargaining agreement talks and possible lockout have made some teams unwilling to do long-term deals with many players and forced them to settle for one year tenders.
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Washington Redskins: Albert Haynesworth's Health and Well-Being
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Albert Haynesworth has become synonymous with the word "crybaby."
His refusal to attend the offseason program after receiving his roster bonus angered everyone in the Redskins organization, and gave the Redskins' fans a serious case of heartburn.
Haynesworth spent the first few weeks of training camp not practicing because he was unable to pass their physical fitness test, and is upset he's not getting reps with the first team.
The bottom line is head coach Mike Shanahan doesn't care who Haynesworth is or what he's being paid. It's Shanahan's way or the highway.
This situation most likely won't end well.
Arizona Cardinals: Matt Leinart Loses His Starting Job. Again.
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Matt Leinart drifted further and further into "draft bust" territory this preseason by losing his starting job after the second preseason game to Derek Anderson.
Leinart has been given every opportunity to be a starting quarterback in the NFL, but he's never been able to take the ball and be a star.
Unlike some other draft busts, there's no one thing to pin his failures on. Leinart just never seems to have been able to make the transition to the pros. His saga isn't quite over yet, but the book appears to be headed to its final chapter.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Who Are The Pittsburgh Steelers?
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With Roethlisberger taking the snaps, the Steelers' offense looked pretty good.
The problem is Roethlisberger won't be taking any snaps for at least the first four weeks of the season, possibly six depending on what NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell does next week.
Head coach Mike Tomlin has looked at Dennis Dixon, Byron Leftwich, and Charlie Batch as possible fill-ins, but not one of these quarterbacks is inspiring confidence in Steeler Nation.
An in-game interview with receiver Hines Ward revealed a player who has no idea who is going to be throwing him the ball, and resigned to the reality of the situation.
Throw in a thin offensive line and a first team defense that played terribly against Denver, and there's a lot to be concerned about in Pittsburgh.
Dallas Cowboys: The Dallas Cowboys Are Having Trouble
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The Cowboys' offense has been anemic in the preseason, and head coach Wade Phillips is getting pretty tired of it.
Phillips said he might do what most coaches consider taboo, play his starters for more than one or two series in the fourth preseason game. Phillips indicated he doesn't believe his team is ready for the regular season and giving the first team the extra snaps in a preseason game is one way to fix that.
Phillips is going to be under a lot of pressure to win this year, so expect hard decisions to be made if the Cowboys are unable to correct their problems early in the season.
St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, The Savior Of St. Louis
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While no one is expecting Sam Bradford to win the Super Bowl this year, they sure would like it if he would at least give St. Louis a few more wins than last year.
When you're the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, it brings certain expectations. Bradford will be assessed every week against those expectations whether he deserves it or not.
Minnesota Vikings: The Brett Favre Saga
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*Sigh*
I don't even want to talk about it anymore.
Next.
Cleveland Browns: Can Mike Holmgren Ressurect The Cleveland Browns?
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The Cleveland Browns are going through their fourth rebuild since returning to the league in 1999. In that time they've had exactly one playoff appearance, a loss to the Steelers in 2002.
Mike Holmgren is the latest person brought in by owner Randy Lerner to save the franchise Lerner inherited from his father.
The "Eric Mangini As Football Czar" experiment didn't work out in 2009, but with Holmgren in charge, and a much more organized front office with clear direction and division of duties, the future does look a little brighter than it did a year ago.
No one is sure what this team will look like in 2010, but if the preseason is any indication, this Cleveland Browns team may actually be able to score points.
Oakland Raiders: All Is Quiet In Oakland, For Now
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The story out of Oakland right now is the stunning lack of story.
Al Davis isn't executing anyone, no coaches are assaulting each other, and everyone appears to be happy with the quarterback situation for a change.
Oakland's dysfunction the last few years turned the team into a parody of itself, but it now appears the organization may have done a few things right.
Oakland fans hope this trend continues when the games start counting.
Cincinnati Bengals: Watching Cincinnati Be Cincinnati
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No one is exactly sure when Cincinnati became the Midwest version of the Oakland Raiders, but the Bengals over the last few years seem to have become the other team in the league who likes to sign players who are troubled, have a past, or are looking for one last season in the sun.
The main storyline for Cincinnati this season, though, is the wide receivers. First they wanted Terrell Owens, then they signed Antonio Bryant, then they signed Owens, and now Bryant has been cut.
If that's how the offseason went, what's the regular season going to be like?
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