NFL Lockout 2011: 15 Players with the Most to Gain from the NFL's Lockout
The NFL owners have locked out their players, leaving the summer of 2011 full of mystery, apprehension and legal battles to decide if and when the league year will begin.
As the players and fan wait to see what the future of the NFL will bring, is it possible that players might actually benefit from the lockout?
Outside of long vacations and easy living this summer, a handful of players will actually be better off with the current state of the NFL.
How could this be, and who stands to gain from a lockout? Find out inside.
1. Chad Henne, Miami Dolphins
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The Miami Dolphins were not shy about the fact that they would consider moving on from Chad Henne at quarterback this offseason.
And then the lockout started. Miami was unable to sign free agents and with limited draft picks due to trades they were not able to make a move to add a viable rookie quarterback.
All of this bodes very well for Henne, who has been organizing player workouts and is the only quarterback on the 2011 roster with the experience to run the offense.
As June approaches it becomes more and more likely that Henne will be given the ball as the Dolphins 2011 starter.
2. Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers
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Much like Mr. Henne in Miami, the 49ers' Alex Smith is benefiting from an offseason lockout.
Smith, who is an unrestricted free agent, has been offered a tentative deal to return to San Francisco next fall as the starting quarterback.
Without a lockout to prevent the 49ers from adding a veteran quarterback to the roster, this would have been very unlikely.
New head coach Jim Harbaugh knows he needs an experienced hand to lead the 49ers during 2011 and also to groom second-round pick Colin Kaepernick in the intricacies of the NFL.
In return Smith is given one last shot at redemption.
3. Matt Light, New England Patriots
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With their first pick in the 2011 NFL draft, the New England Patriots drafted Colorado's Nate Solder to replace free-agent left tackle Matt Light.
With the Patriots holding no player workouts, and without a playbook, Solder will enter training camp light years behind where Bill Belichick will want him to be before he's comfortable starting him.
Which means the Patriots are likely to extend a one-year offer to Matt Light.
Light has the experience New England, and Tom Brady, will want at left tackle. This is a Super Bowl team and they cannot afford to trust a very green rookie with Brady's blind side.
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4. Jimmy Clausen, Carolina Panthers
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Jimmy Clausen has been all but forgotten in Carolina with the selection of Cam Newton with the No. 1 overall pick.
But not so fast, football fans.
With NFL players unable to practice or learn from coaches Newton has been relegated to workout with former NFL superstars Ken Dorsey and Chris Weinke at IMG this summer.
While neither player is experienced in offensive coordinator Rod Chudzinksi, but Clausen has the benefit of having played one full season in the NFL and having been coached in an NFL system.
Newton, as was highly publicized before the draft, never called the plays in the huddle at Auburn.
Clausen will be given the 2011 season to prove his worth in the NFL, if not to the Panthers then to another team.
5. David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars
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You will notice a trend in this article in that most veteran quarterbacks hold a distinct advantage over their younger counterparts this season, due to the inability to workout and practice with coaching staffs.
David Garrard figured to be the Jaguars' opening day starter regardless of the lockout, but the drafting of quarterback Blaine Gabbert at No. 10 overall made his status a little shakier than originally believed.
Garrard has the NFL experience and knowledge of the Jaguars' system to hold off Blaine Gabbert for at least the first 10-12 games of the 2011 season—as long as Jacksonville is in playoff contention.
6. Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings
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One NFL newcomer who will benefit from the owner lockout is Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback Christian Ponder.
How so? Ponder enters a situation in Minnesota where he is clearly the best quarterback on the roster, no offense meant to Joe Webb.
In most years the Vikings would sign a veteran to come in and play until Ponder is deemed NFL ready. In the bizarro 2011 NFL offseason the Vikings simply cannot sign anyone.
Minnesota will eventually sign a free agent, once the league year begins, but this veteran will be on the same footing as Ponder—if not behind him in terms of learning the playbook.
7. Aqib Talib, Tampa Bay Buccaneersa
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This one may be a head-scratcher for those of you who have been keeping up with Aqib Talib's offseason legal troubles.
Here's a quick refresher for those who aren't familiar with Talib.
- At the NFL rookie symposium in July, Talib was involved in a fist fight with fellow Buccaneers rookie Cory Boyd.
- On August 20, 2009 Talib allegedly assaulted a taxi driver; he was arrested and charged with resisting arrest without violence and simple battery.
- In March 2011, police in Garland, Texas issued a felony warrant for Talib for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after accusing him of firing a gun at his sister's boyfriend.
It's hard to imagine at face value that the lockout could be a benefit to a troubled player like Talib, who would seemingly benefit from the monitoring and guidance of the Buccaneers during these times.
Here's the flip side though: Talib is outside the NFL's jurisdiction currently and cannot be suspended or fined for his legal transgressions.
Without an NFL Players Association there are no grounds for discipline.
8. Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland Raiders
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Oakland Raiders' cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha made waves before the NFL lockout began by opting out of his contract with Oakland, immediately making him the most sought after free agent available in the 2011 offseason.
And then the lockout began.
Asomugha does figure to see a huge pay day once the lockout is lifted, whether by negotiations or legal decisions.
Assuming that the NFL will operate under 2010 league rules over half of the current free agent crop will lose their status as unrestricted free agents, as they will not have the required six years needed to enter free agency.
For Asomugha this means more attention from the media, more suitors in the NFL and more money being spent on the upper crest of the free-agent class.
9. Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos
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From the outside looking in, it would not seem that Kyle Orton has a good thing going in Denver.
The Broncos seem destined to hand the starting job to former first-rounder Tim Tebow, or even third-stringer Brady Quinn, in an open-competition this summer.
So, how does this benefit Orton? Two ways.
1. Orton has the most experience of the Denver quarterbacks.
If the Broncos want to win in 2011 they must trust Orton as their starter, even if it means working Tebow into goal-line situations.
2. If traded, Orton enters a very weak quarterback market.
The Broncos may simply trade Orton away, and if they do he will immediately become one of the most coveted quarterbacks available. A starting job would be guaranteed in Arizona, Washington or Seattle.
10. Earl Bennett, Chicago Bears
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Most fans and experts expected the Chicago Bears to draft a wide receiver early in the 2011 NFL draft. When they didn't all signs pointed toward signing a marquee wideout in free agency.
However, who knows if and when free agency will begin, or which players will be eligible for free agency?
The Bears may very well be forced to enter 2011 with the players currently on the roster at wide receiver.
If so no player will benefit more than Earl Bennett.
Bennett has experience with quarterback Jay Cutler, dating back to their days at Vanderbilt. He is also the best route runner of the Bears' receivers.
If Chicago cannot add a Braylon Edwards or Steve Smith, Bennett is the ultimate benefactor.
11. Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants
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Ahmad Bradshaw is one of many players who are waiting in limbo to hear if they will be unrestricted or restricted free agents this summer.
Unlike the majority of potential free agents, Bradshaw may actually benefit from returning to the New York Giants in 2011 under his current deal.
Bradshaw is the Giants' lone hope at running back, with Brandon Jacobs proving to be nothing more than a goal-line back.
With a healthy offensive line in 2011 the Giants figure to be very good. They also plan to ride the running game heavily to take pressure of quarterback Eli Manning.
This all adds up to a huge season for Bradshaw and an even bigger pay day after the 2011 season.
12. John Beck, Washington Redskins
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As laughable as it may seem, John Beck is your starting quarterback for the Washington Redskins if the season starts tomorrow.
And Mike Shanahan seems to be okay with that.
While we find it hard to believe Shanahan would pin his 2011 season on Beck, it's starting to look more and more possible.
If so, Beck is undoubtedly the biggest winner from the NFL lockout.
Given a "real" offseason Mike Shanahan and co. would have been able to thoroughly vet the free-agent quarterback class to find a viable option as their starter for 2011.
Or maybe they just really want Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck in the 2012 NFL draft.
13. John Skelton, Arizona Cardinals
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Second on our list of ridiculous starting quarterbacks for the 2011 season is the Arizona Cardinals' John Skelton.
Skelton, a 2010 fifth-round pick, was forced into action during the season after Derek Anderson and Max Hall proved ineffective.
As expected for a late-round pick on a bad team, Skelton did not perform well.
As it is, Skelton should not be viewed as more than a backup in Arizona. However, unless the Cardinals are able to trade for a Kevin Kolb or Kyle Orton, he may be their best chance in 2011.
14. Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints
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The New Orleans Saints used one of two 2011 first-round picks on running back Mark Ingram, leaving many to feel Reggie Bush is on the way out in the Big Easy.
We disagree.
Bush may be asked to restructure his contract, but he has a spot in New Orleans.
Mark Ingram may be the next Emmitt Smith, but he will not be ready for a full-time role in 2011, not without a summer of learning pass protection and passing routes.
Enter Reggie Bush.
Bush may not be the featured back in New Orleans, but he will have a role as a third-down back, slot receiver and return man.
15. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
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And the biggest winners of the 2011 NFL lockout are Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
Why?
The Patriots entire offense except retired guard Stephen Neal is expected to return in 2011—even Pro Bowl free agent Logan Mankins.
The Patriots also added key pieces along the offensive line, at running back and a cornerback who we liked as a top 25 player.
The Patriots also return a defense that is largely intact, and only getting better with experience.
With limited offseason workouts every NFL team will be relying on pure talent and chemistry, at least early on. No roster is more talented or offers more continuity than New England's.
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