Top 25 NFL Subplots To Watch in February
The month of February is a huuuugue month for the NFL.
We have the biggest game of the year in the Super Bowl.
Free agent and trade season is officially able to kick-off.
Las but not least, the future of the entire league could be decided this month! With a lockout looming in the beginning of March, major moves need to be made in February.
Let's take a look at 25 storylines to follow in the shortest month of the year.
(note: All free agent and trade transactions are based on assumption that a deal is agreed upon)
25. Who Wins the Super Bowl?
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First thing is first, the biggest game of the season is next month and the matchup is great.
Two of the most historic franchises meet as the Packers take on the Steelers.
This game comes down to something that you would never expect—the Packers are able to run the ball against the No. 1-rated Steelers defense.
James Starks becomes a household name as he helps Green Bay control the clock while moving the chains. The Steelers begin to panic and place eight in the box.
Enter Aaron Rodgers.
Green Bay 26, Pittsburgh 21
24. Who Wins the Super Bowl MVP?
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The QB almost always wins the MVP and this game will be no different.
Aaron Rodgers stat line: 22-of-28 for 284 yards and two TD.
He’s going to Disney World.
23. Who is the Super Bowl Goat?
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James Harrison may have had one of the biggest plays in Super Bowl history two years ago (99-yard pick-six) but this year is a whole new ballgame.
The ultra-hyper Harrison will either jump offsides at the most critical point in the game, or get a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty that kills the Pitt defense.
Wouldn’t a roughness penalty by Harrison bring the “year of the concerns with big hits” full circle?
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22. Whose Legacy is Most Affected by the Super Bowl?
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If Big Ben can win a third Super Bowl he will be considered one of the best QBs of all time. He would have as many rings as John Elway, Dan Marino and Peyton Manning combined.
His legacy will forever be labeled as “winner” and not “alleged molester.”
21. Who Stands Out at the Combine?
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The NFL Combine is towards the end of February and there is still a lot to be determined for most draft picks.
Every year there is a player who posts a blazing fast 40 time or destroys the competition in the bench press.
This year I predict Alabama receiver Julio Jones blows away the scouts.
Jones is a huge target who also has blazing fast speed. He will be a stud receiver in this league for at least the next decade.
His speed and strength will be on full display at the combine and that will vault himself up to a top-10 selection.
Browns at No. 6 maybe?
20. Where Will Vince Young Land?
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He is toast in Tennessee and is looking for a new home. Who wants to deal with the drama?
There will surely be a team out there that could use a guy with a winning record in his NFL career.
Possible landing spots include: the Panthers, Cardinals, Redskins and Raiders.
Pick: Vikings
19. Who’s the Next NFL Player To Lash Out to the Media?
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The brilliance that is Antonio Cromartie earlier this week:
“You don’t get no information about nothing from the union or the owners,” he said.
Cromartie wants the two sides to come together and discontinue complaining about money, adding, “Money ain’t nothing.”
After this hilarious outburst, the owners are cackling. My guess is the NFL players union put out an e-mail immediately to every player in the NFL to stop talking about the labor dispute.
But then again, when have NFL players been known to follow the rules?
I'll take Randy Moss
18. Where Will Sidney Rice Play?
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With the comical QB situation in Minnesota, why would Rice want to come back?
He is a free agent and should be looking for a team with some sort of idea who the QB will be.
Potential new team: 49ers, Bears, Chiefs, Eagles, Bills, Titans.
Pick: Giants
17. Does Chad Go Through with the Name Change (again)?
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Chad Ochocinco announced that he wants his original last name of Johnson to make a comeback.
Ochocinco didn’t get him anywhere…so way not?
Truth be told, it was a brilliant marketing move to switch his name. He made a ton of money with the new last name. The novelty has worn off and the money well is drying. Might as well make fans buy his Johnson jersey again.
2011 name: Chad Johnson
16. Who Signs Vincent Jackson?
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He wanted a new contract, and held out for the majority of the season to get it. The Chargers refused to give him one. Jackson ended up accepting a dreadful one-year offer and promptly got hurt in his first series back.
Jackson ended up playing in four games and only had over 54 yards once. But he is still a top receiver who will be itching for a new start next season.
Options: Most of the NFL
Pick: St. Louis Rams
15. Whose Stock Drops the Most at the Combine?
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Allen Bailey
Scouts love the versatility and work ethic of Bailey, but are still trying to figure out where he fits best on an NFL roster.
Bailey lacks the speed off the edge that NFL teams want and he isn't strong enough to hold up inside.
It's well known that Bailey has the tools to succeed in the NFL...the question is, where?
14. Will Kevin Kolb Switch Teams?
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The Eagles are Michael Vick’s team now and Kolb still hasn’t proved anything at the NFL level.
There are plenty of teams that could use a QB and would be willingly to take a flier on Kolb. It will be interesting to see which team can give Philly the most appealing deal.
Seahawks? Redskins? Bengals? Raiders?
Pick: 49ers
13. Where Does Ahmad Bradshaw End Up?
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One of the top free-agent running backs should have plenty of suitors.
Bradshaw has a extraordinary combination of power and speed that is very appealing. However, fumbling is a big concern, as he lost the ball seven times this season.
Potential suitors: Dolphins, Panthers, Broncos, Bengals, and Redskins.
Pick: Seahawks
12. What Unknown Player Vaults Up the Rankings?
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Ben Ijalana
The beastly 6’4", 320 pound O-lineman from Villanova is one of the premier non-DI prospects in the upcoming draft.
He didn’t start playing football until he was 14 so he’s a bit raw, but the combination of long arms and quick feet make him one of the most desirable options at tackle in the entire draft.
He can really shine with a stellar performance at the combine. You will know the name by the end of the month.
11. What Will the New Rookie Contract Look Like?
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Sam Bradford was guaranteed over $50 million before even throwing a snap in the NFL. Terrell Owens, one of the top receivers of the past 10 years, struggled to sign a $2 million deal in 2010.
The system is broken and needs to be fixed.
The NFL should look at the NBA for suggestions.
The top picks make around $5 to $6 million right away while the rest of the first round nets $1 to $3 million. That way, the proven players are able to cash in big once teams know what they are dealing with.
The NFL draft is the biggest gamble in sports and will be fixed under a new agreement.
10. Will the 18-Game Schedule Win Out?
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After the owners were presented with the insane amount of revenue they could generate by adding two games, there is no question it will happen.
The health of the players will be greatly compromised, but even they will be less resistant to the idea when they are shown the dollars and cents of it.
The health of players is an afterthought to greed (that is a depressing sentence to write).
9. What Team Will Champ Bailey “Pick?"
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Bailey wants to win now; he is still one of the top cornerbacks in the league and is a desirable free agent.
He will have plenty of options available to him, and while he claims he still loves the Broncos...expect him to pick a new team for 2011.
Potential teams: Most of the NFL
Pick: Saints or Falcons
8. What Potential Trades Will Be Made?
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Plenty of disgruntled players exist and the same can be said for owners and coaches. NFL trades are a rarity, but don’t be surprised to see a few transactions this month.
The Pats are always up for trading for picks, but this season they may be in a position to trade their plethora of picks in exchange for talent that can help them right away.
Can the Bears keep Jay Cutler after the ugly MCL saga of the past week?
Do the 49ers have to trade for a competent QB that has NFL experience at this point?
Is Larry Fitzgerald fed up with the Cardinals?
7. Is Carson Palmer Still a Bengal?
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Carson, have you not researched the history of the Bengals?
Boomer Eisason was in the same situation almost 20 years ago. He demanded a trade from the owner and Mike Brown laughed in his face.
Eisason went on to play one more uninspired season before being traded to the Jets for a third round pick.
Palmer is stuck with the Bengals.
6. Which Side Caves First in the Labor Dispute?
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The battle between the owners and players has been going on for over a year now. Both sides have stuck to their guns so far and the negotiations are at a stalemate.
Roger Goodell announced that he would reduce his salary to a $1 if the lockout happens.
Well, big surprise, not more than a few hours later, president of the NFLPA DeMaurice Smith announced he would reduce his salary to 68 cents.
Winner NFLPA?
Nope.
The players need the paychecks a million times more than the owners and when the money stops flowing the players will cave.
5. How Will Roger Goodell’s Legacy Be Impacted?
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However this plays out, the outcome will be mentioned in the eulogy of Goodell’s tenure as NFL commissioner. A lockout would really put a dent in his legacy and losing an entire season would be devastating.
Compromising with the players union is a delicate move that can either enforce his power or make him look like a softie.
How we view Goodell for the next decade-plus could be built around his February 2011 actions.
4. Does Donovan McNabb Find a New Team?
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The honeymoon in Washington lasted until about mid-October. Since then, it’s been one debacle after another.
McNabb desperately wants a new team and the Redskins would love a new QB.
So where does he land? Arizona? San Fran? Cincy? Oakland?
Prediction: Tennessee
3. Who Emerges From the Combine as No. 1?
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Nick Fairley
Fairley was unstoppable over the last quarter of the college season.
He physically dominated Alabama's offensive line on Thanksgiving weekend. His stock was rising by the week and it peaked after his inspired performance against Oregon in the National Championship Game.
He has all the tools and has shown up on the biggest of stages. He doesn’t have to do a whole lot to keep his No. 1 pick status.
2. Which Side Will Come Out on Top in the Labor Dispute?
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The owners aren’t worried about aging another year and that’s the difference in a nutshell.
Every player in the NFL would be sacrificing a whole year for nothing and wont be getting paid for it. These guys have been playing organized football their entire lives and how are they supposed to function without it?
The lack of money and wasted year of their biological clock will be enough for the players to eventually cave.
The owners are already millionaire/billionaires and can afford a year off. They don’t give a crap about aging players or disgruntled fans.
Winner: Owners
1. Will a Labor Agreement Happen in February?
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It's the only question that truly matters.
The current deal expires in early March and the two sides seem to be far apart in the negotiations.
This is the month when you will get sick of hearing about NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
The media battles that will consume the month of February will reach nauseating levels. All signs point to a whole lot of nothing. The sides are still very far apart on the 18-game schedule, health benefits for retirees and rookie salaries.
There will be some fierce battles in February and a lot of negotiating, but....
No deal.
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