5 Bold Pedictions for the 2011-12 NFL Season

It's no surprise why everybody is ready and excited for the 2011-2012 NFL season. The bickering between players and owners is over and it's almost fall. But before we 'get ready for some football,' it's time to make some bold predictions about some bold NFL topics.

A lockout and its new labor deal brought out one of the largest NFL free agent lists of all time. With shake-ups on most NFL rosters as well as newly drafted players, such as Carolina's Cam Newton, fans are extremely eager to see an exciting NFL season.

We'll touch on upcoming NFC North sleepers the Detroit Lions, Terrelle Pryor's NFL future...and of all things Brett Favre. Ugh, I know.

Will the Detroit Lions Make the Playoffs?

Well most, if not everyone, in Detroit has seemed to have taken at least a sip of the Honolulu Blue Kool-Aid.

The Lions are coming off a year in which they exploded out of the fourth turn of the 2010-11 season and finished the season 6-10. Jim Schwarz and company had one of the stronger drafts this year, obtaining Auburn DT Nick Fairley to play alongside already established star Ndamukong Suh. Only furthering their case as a contending team, the organization re-signed key players such as Chris Houston and Cliff Avril, while also signing free agent LBs Justin Durant and Steven Tulloch. All of this sounds like a concoction for a winning team? Not in my mind.

I, personally, haven't sipped the Kool-Aid...yet. With injuries already to Fairley (who also has noted character issues), and to second-round picks RB Mikel Leshoure and WR Titus Young, the Lions will basically start the season like they hadn't even participated in the Draft. With an injury-prone prodigy QB in Matthew Stafford, there are simply too many questions on this team.

It seems too much has to go perfectly on this team in order for them to simply contend.

I really, really wish I could say the Lions would finish 10-6 or 9-7. My bold prediction? 7-9

Cameron Newton Will Be the Panthers Starting QB by Week 4

Why Week 4? Because the Panthers are so darn forsaken horrible that if Newton doesn't already have the job under center, he will by then. 

The few reasons why he wouldn't already have the starting job is because he played in a very simple style offense at Auburn. He's never studied or read a pro-style defense and has to still adjust to the massive change to the NFL system. Newton does run and throw like a professional, though, and will surely be the explosive and entertaining player he all wish him to become...in time.

In the meantime, Jimmy Clausen will have to do. 

Terrelle Pryor Will Play in an NFL Game This Season

Pending his eligibility for tomorrow's NFL supplemental draft, Terrelle Pryor will be allowed on an NFL roster...only if Roger Goodell allows it.

Pryor, a former Ohio State University quarterback, left the school earlier this summer after a number of NCAA allegations were brought against him and the school. He initially stated that he would return for his senior season following an NCAA-mandated suspension for the first five games of the 2011 collegiate football season.

Pryor has all the concrete skills to be an NFL player, but not an NFL QB. His QB skills are sub-par, and if he does make an NFL team this season, it'll most likely be as a wide receiver. If Pryor does make a team, why not expect him to play?

The Philadelphia Eagles Will Not Win the Super Bowl

Why not? Because the Green Bay Packers will. The Eagles have too many egos in one locker room to keep it together for a 19 or 20 game season. That is all.

Brett Favre, He's Baaaaaack!

Say it ain't so. Is Brett Favre really, really doing this again? In all honesty, don't count on it. But, if the impossible, if not inevitable were to happen, where would Favre go?

The most obvious situation for Favre to flock to is the Philadelphia Eagles. Working as a backup for Michael Vick on an already Super Bowl contending team would be a perfect fit for the golden 'oldie.