Top 10 Stories of 2011-12 NFL Season

To quote Chris Berman: "Sooo? You're all on the Eagles, huh?"

It certainly seems like the Eagles bandwagon has reached max capacity after the most impressive week of free agent signings in recent memory.  I'm proud to admit that I'm one of them.

I've heard enough about "not jumping to any conclusions," or "it's too early to make predictions."  No, it's never to early to predict in the world of sports, and it's never too late to hop on a bandwagon (I'm looking at you, Miami Heat fans).

All the acquisitions made by Philadelphia might as well have been a fantasy draft in Madden 2012, but we shouldn't discount some of these other NFL headlines that will be sure to draw lots of interest over the upcoming season. 

10: Plaxico Burress

Can we expect a Mike Vick-type of explosion from Plax? Probably not.  He's 33 and receivers' production typically slows at this age.

Unlike Vick, Burress won't have a year to sit out and reacquaint himself with the NFL.  He's been signed with a chance to start immediately for the Jets, who recently released Jericho Cotchery, and lost Braylon Edwards to the 49ers.  They're courting Derrick Mason, but that doesn't change much for Plaxico.

Going to Gang Green means being under the spotlight.  Not only will he be under pressure to produce, but he'll also be under pressure to handle himself like a professional after returning from his stay in prison (one he probably didn't deserve in the first place, but that's another story).  

9: Tim Tebow

This is just plain awkward.  Kyle Orton might as well have been on a flight to Miami last week to be the quarterback of the Dolphins, but thanks to Miami's reluctance to give up a 2nd round pick, Orton is back taking first team snaps in Denver.

It doesn't look good, as far as playing time goes, for Tim Tebow this year.  Not to mention the bashing he's still receiving from "expert analysts" and journalists.

NFL quarterbacks are judged by winning, and Tebow did a lot of that in college (two BCS National Championships).  

The fans want to see him in Denver, and I expect there to be a lot of pressure from the inside to get him on the field if the Broncos aren't winning.

8: Mike Shanahan and the Redskins

Mike Shanahan is going to do things his way.  That was expected.

What wasn't expected was the benching of Donovan McNabb (for Rex Grossman, nonetheless) and the embarrassment that was Albert Haynesworth.

With John Beck and Rex Grossman fighting for the starting quarterback spot, and not many weapons surrounding them, Washington seems poised to be the worst team in the league.

Maybe they're setting themselves up to draft Stanford QB, Andrew Luck. 

Although the quarterback position is a huge question mark, the more important question is: How patient will Redskin fans and ownership be with Mike Shanahan? He proved he can win his way in Denver,but can he do it again in Washington?

7: Haynesworth and Ochocinco to the Patriots

The 'T' in the T.Ocho show now stands for Tom Brady. 

I mentioned the Eagles signing a brand new all-star team, but did any team pick up two players who have more to prove than Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth? Chad can't complain about Marvin Lewis being the head coach, and Albert doesn't have to be worried about being publicly humiliated after signing a 100 million dollar deal because the Patriots keep everything in-house.

Bill Belichick knows how to maximize the talent on his roster.  That's what helped make him one of the best coaches of all time.  

Will Chad Ochocinco be able to keep his twitter-happy fingers in check? Can Albert get back in shape and do what he does best: put pressure on the quarterback?

If these two former NFL pro-bowlers can perform to even 75% of what they used to be, this might be the best all-around Patriots team we've seen in the Belichick-Brady era.

6: Donovan McNabb in Minnesota

The most intriguing pick-up in this year's off-season, McNabb has maybe his last chance to start in the NFL for a good team.

I hesitate to say the Vikings are contenders for anything except a wildcard spot in the playoffs.  The defense isn't what it used to be - Pat Williams and Ray Edwards are gone, and their number one receiver, Sidney Rice, hopped on a plane to play for Pete Carroll in Seattle.

But Minnesota can be a very sneaky team.  They still have the best running back in the league in Adrian Peterson, an explosive receiver/returner in Percy Harvin, and a motivated head coach in Leslie Frazier. 

McNabb might have fallen to the right team at the right time.  The Vikings aren't ready to rebuild around a rookie quarterback just yet.  We'll wait and see if McNabb can lead this team to the playoffs.

5: Can Mike Vick Repeat Success?

I didn't realize how much the NFL needed a superstar athlete at quarterback until Mike Vick exploded last year in Philadelphia.  I was ready to name him the MVP after week eight.

This year, Eagle's fans have expectations, and so does the media.  Vick was the main attraction for this year's incoming free agents, and boy did he lure in some big names (Nnamdi Asomugha, Cullen Jenkins, Ronnie Brown, to name a few).  Now it's time to see if Vick can have an encore performance this season with all this added pressure.

And one thing I've learned, is to never doubt Michael Vick.

It must feel good to be an Eagles fan.  Not much to complain about right now. 

4: Breakthrough Playoff Team: Rams

Sam Bradford impressed me more his rookie season than Matt Ryan did with the Falcons.  Without a number one receiver, Bradford was one game away from taking the Rams to the playoffs. 

They added some key players on offense in speedy running back Jerious Norwood, and big-target wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker.  Norwood will provide Steven Jackson with some much needed rest after carrying the load on a run-heavy team for the past few years, and Sims-Walker gives Bradford an outlet when he gets in trouble.

The Seahawks may have acquired Sidney Rice, but they lost their starting quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck, so the Rams are in position to grab first place in a division that's up for grabs.

Other teams to watch: Raiders, Buccaneers, and Lions. 

3: Rex Ryan's Guarantee

Is anyone really surprised by this? I'm only surprised the media even bothered making this a story again.  On second though, that doesn't surprise me either.

They resigned Santonio Holmes and Antonio Cromartie, as well as bringing in Plaxico Burress and (trying to bring in) Derick Mason to replace Braylon Edwards and Jericho Cotchery.  No big changes in New York.

They've made two straight AFC title games, and the only problem it seems they'll have, is getting Mark Sanchez off to a fast start.  He's produced in the playoffs, but his consistency in the regular season doesn't match that of the his post-season.

Under Rex Ryan, the Jets have yet to play a home playoff game, and with the Patriots still atop their division, it's unlikely they get more than one this year.  

But if the road to the Super Bowl in the AFC runs through New York, we might see Rex's guarantee come to fruition. 

2: The NFC North: Cutler's Knee and Rodger's Repeat

The Packers have almost been dethroned as a result of the Eagles off-season spending spree, but it would be ignorant to forget about the defending champs.

Rodgers has propelled himself into the top quarterback in the league discussion that now contains him, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning (until Philip Rivers wins a Super Bowl, he won't be joining them, even though he's just as talented).

But everyone knows repeating as Super Bowl champs is hard.  Even making the playoffs is going to be tough with the improvement in the NFC.

With several key starters returning from injury, look for the Packers to come in with swagger, daring anyone to take them lightly.

Then we have the Jay Cutler saga in Chicago.  The thunderstorm cloud that was his sprained MCL has drifted away now that he's receiving praise from the coaching staff on his improved footwork and mechanics.

The Bears did him a favor and drafted a beefy offensive lineman in Gabe Carimi, as well as adding a big target on the outside in wide receiver Roy Williams.

Although Williams will have to once again prove he's a true number one receiver (or an elite receiver as Mike Martz called him), he instantly improves a one dimensional receiving corps.

Talks are that Jay Cutler is ready to have a big season, so get ready Bears fans, this might just be what we've been waiting for. 

1: Cam Newton

Has there been a No. 1 draft pick as heavily scrutinized as Cam Newton?

I can't remember ever being this excited to see what happens with one quarterback.  He's barely been in this league for two weeks (because of the lockout), and he already has an effect named after him.

The Cam Newton Effect.

No one thought the Panthers would keep DeAngelo Williams, Charles Johnson AND Steve Smith.  Cam Newton came in, made some phone calls, convinced his teammates that he was there to win games, and now the Panthers seem to be in 100 times better shape than last year. 

Not to mention picking up a Pro Bowl-caliber tight end in Greg Olsen for just a third-round pick.

Cam Newton will not only attract an audience in Carolina, but everywhere around the league. Everyone seems to have an opinion they want to share about Cam, so here's mine: superstar in the making.  

Get ready for some thrilling years, Carolina.