10 NFL Players Facing Make-or-Break Seasons in 2011

When an NFL player is on the verge of making or breaking his career, a lot is on the line. Everything he has worked for his entire life is at stake, and it can be a lot of pressure. 

Entering the 2011 season, many players are facing this situation.

Whether it be a free agent facing retirement or just a player who is starting to see his days in the spotlight start to fade, 2011 is the year to prove what they are made of.

Nobody wants to face that this may be his final year in the league, but many players have to do so. Will they give it their all to see if they have what it takes to stay in the league a few more years, or will they simply keep their poor ways up and face what is ahead of them?

Here is a list of 10 players in the NFL that are facing make-or-break seasons in 2011.

10. Tiki Barber

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PHILADELPHIA - JANUARY 07: Tiki Barber #21 of the New York Giants waits on the field after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles 23-20 during their NFC Wildcard Playoff game on January 7, 2007 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo

Currently: Retired, NY Giants

Whenever a player returns to the league from retirement, the spotlight is always on him.

Tiki Barber retired after the 2006 season and has decided that he will pull a Brett Favre. 

Tiki was one of the greatest Giants running backs to ever play in New York and will give it another go. In the season prior to his retirement, Barber totaled 1,662 yards, which was the second-best total of his career. 

So will the 36-year-old Barber, fresh off five years of rest, come back and prove that he can still perform at the top of his game?

If he can, you can bet that he will probably see a three-year contract at most. If not, his NFL career will be done for good.

9. Randy Moss

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KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 26: Receiver Randy Moss #84 of the Tennessee Titans warms up prior to the start of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs on December 26, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Currently: Free Agent

One question: What the heck happened to this guy?

Randy Moss used to be known as one of the elite wide receivers in the NFL, even until midseason last year.

Wearing three jerseys in 2010 for the New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings and the Tennessee Titans, Moss had one of the worst seasons in his career.

Totaling only 28 catches, 393 yards and five TDs, Moss certainly seems to have worn his name out.

How can a player known for potentially being in the Hall of Fame have such a horrible turnaround in only one season?

Only one thing is for sure: If Moss doesn't revive his career in 2011 with at least a decent season, he will be facing retirement.

This is the biggest year for him, and if a team is willing enough to sign him, then he better give it all he has.

8. Adam Vinatieri

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: Adam Vinatieri #4 of the Indianapolis Colts reacts after he kicked a successful 50-yard field goal in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January

Currently: Free Agent

Kickers aren't usually tossed around in the conversation about what players need to have a good season to remain on a team, but then again, most players don't have four Super Bowl rings.

Yet again, another player is facing retirement, as Vinatieri is 38 years old. 

Adam has seen his share of glory in the league yet is still producing at a high level for his age. But like I said, retirement is a factor in his career.

Last season he was 26-of-28 on field goals and is feeling all 28 kicks.

Adam will certainly see a few contracts being thrown his way; it's just a matter of if he wants to accept them or not.

If he does sign to a team and misses more than five field goals, then I think he will call it quits. If he goes, say, 39-of-42, then I think he'll keep kicking away.

7. Terrell Owens

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 24: Terrell Owens #81 of the Cincinnati Bengals against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on October 24, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Currently: Free Agent

Another cocky player—setting a trend, perhaps?

Terrell Owens, formerly a Cincinnati Bengal, is another player that has seen his career fall off fast. Owens was brought into Cincinnati opposite Chad Ochocinco to try to be one of the league's scariest duos. How did it work? Fail.

It just seems that the more a player gets traded, the worse he becomes.

Owens seemed to have a burst of life in Dallas, but that quickly ended as well after only three seasons.

Going to Buffalo to try to remain a star? Probably one of the worst moves a player, especially T.O., can do.

Well, Owens is spending time as a free agent and will most likely get picked up as soon as the lockout is lifted.

He will possibly see a one- or two-year deal with a struggling team but certainly will not provide enough to remain a top receiver in the league.

Face it, T.O., you're getting old. If his presence on a team isn't up to par in 2011, Owens can eat all the popcorn he wants.

6. Darrelle Revis

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 19: Darrelle Revis #24of the New York Jets warms up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 19, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Currently: NY Jets

Darrelle Revis of the New York Jets didn't have the kind of year he hoped to have in 2010.

After accumulating only 32 tackles with no interceptions, compared to 54 tackles and six interceptions in 2009, Revis has only himself to blame. These low numbers are something very unusual for the runner-up for 2009 Defensive Player of the Year.

In the 2009 offseason, Revis decided to hold out of training camp and preseason because he felt he deserved more money.

Was he right? Well, if a player is producing six picks a year and boosting your team to a whole different level, then sure. But holding out for such a long time, no. Look at what it did to his game.

Any player, no matter what skill level, who misses training camp, practices, drills and so on will obviously not be the same the next year.

Revis will have to have a year like 2009 if he wants to be part of Gang Green. Owner Woody Johnson and coach Rex Ryan will not put up with anything otherwise, so Revis must give it his all.

If he does not provide, Revis will be traded off "Revis Island" before he knows it.

5. Ray Lewis

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 09: Linebacker Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens warms up prior to playing the Kansas City Chiefs in their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 9, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Doug Pen

Currently: Baltimore Ravens

If it wasn't for the lack of offensive productivity, the Ravens would certainly have won a Super Bowl recently.

A large part of their dreaded defense is the work and hardcore D of Ray Lewis.

This man is a monster, and any running back or quarterback can vouch for this as well. Ray entered the league in 1996 and has been giving it 110 percent every step of the way ever since.

The only thing he has going against him is time. Ray is 36 years old and has tossed around the word "retirement" a few times in the past couple of years.

The lockout certainly isn't helping either. I think he just wants to play while he can, and the lockout is the only brick wall in his way he has seen. 

If 2011 doesn't give him the spark of enjoyment and energy he has had the past couple of years, then I think you'll be seeing a No. 52 jersey hanging up in M&T Bank Stadium.

4. Steve Smith

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SEATTLE - DECEMBER 05: Wide receiver Steve Smith #89 of the Carolina Panthers looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on December 5, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks won, 31-14. (Photo by Otto Greule

Currently: Carolina Panthers

Steve Smith has seen his career dwindle pretty fast.

Last year Smith caught only 46 receptions for 554 yards and just two touchdowns. That is not the Steve we know and have seen over the years.

I'm pretty sure Smith is fed up in Carolina. After going 2-14, who wouldn't be?

I think 2011 will be a very similar year for Smith, simply because he wants out. If the Panthers don't get out to a great start with Cam Newton, I expect Steve to either call it quits or see if he can bring his talents elsewhere.

3. Michael Vick

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 19: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks to pass against the New York Giants during their game on December 19, 2010 at The New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

Currently: Philadelphia Eagles

As crazy as this sounds, yes, Michael Vick is facing a make-or-break season in 2011.

Everyone knows the unbelievable story of his comeback in 2010, so there is no reason to explain it.

However, the pressure will be on his shoulders to keep that level of performance up.

From the perspective of an Eagles fan, Michael Vick is a player on the roster that will be under fire for the rest of his career. He can do great and lead them to a Super Bowl, but if he doesn't do the same the next year, he is automatically labeled a fluke.

This is probably the biggest year for Vick. Yes, last year was arguably the biggest, but now he has to follow up and do even better if he wants to remain the face of that Philly franchise. 

If Vick gets hurt early or just flat-out fails to impress anyone and throws a pick every game, then there is no doubt in my mind that Andy Reid will put whoever he can under center until he finds a solid replacement.

I think Vick will bounce back from that wild-card loss to the Packers and have a stellar 2011 season.

2. Cam Newton

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 20: Cam Newton attends the NFL PLAYERS Premiere League Flag Football Game at UCLA on May 20, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)

Currently: Carolina Panthers

I know what you're thinking: "Judging a rookie like this already?"

Yes, only because Cam Newton has the most riding on his shoulders of any rookie in the league right now, and 2011 is his only year to prove he has what it takes to be a starting QB in the NFL.

I even hesitated to put this one up, but hear me out. Cam Newton has his entire career banking on this season, and that's something that not even Christian Ponder, Blaine Gabbert or Jake Locker has to face. If one of them has a rocky start, it's expected, and maybe they'll do better next year.

But this is Cam Newton we're talking about. Say he has a horrible year and throws 25 interceptions (as many as Eli Manning threw in 2010); will he be a starter in 2012? No, he will not, and he will most likely sit and watch until he either gets traded or is forced to sit for good.

This is a definite make-or-break year for Cam Newton.

1. Bob Sanders

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INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 01: Bob Sanders #21 of the Indianapolis Colts moves on the field during the NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 1, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Currently: Free Agent

Even saying the word "injury" will put this guy on the IR.

Bob Sanders has had an injury-filled career in the NFL. Since being drafted in 2004, Sanders has seen only 47 games and six interceptions as a Colt. Check out his impressive injury résumé below:

2006: Knee injury—missed 12 games
2008: Ankle/knee injury—missed 10 games
2009: Arm injury—missed 14 games
2010: Torn biceps—missed all 16 games

Being injured for 80 percent of your career certainly doesn't look good at all.

If Sanders actually manages to stay healthy in 2011, he may have a legitimate shot at getting a feel for the game.

On the other hand, if Sanders misses another 10 games, he will have a hard time finding a team that will even look at him.