50 Things We've Learned in 2011 That Will Define the 2012 NFL Season

If I would have told you last September that the Green Bay Packers would be threatening a perfect season through 13 weeks of the 2011 regular season after winning the Super Bowl the year prior and that the Indianapolis Colts would be 0-13, you would have kicked me to the curb quicker than Bobby Brown and Tina Turner. 

Well, that has happened, and most of us saw it coming a few months back. 

The NFL is a league of trends. Certain things happen, and they continue throughout the duration of the next couple seasons. The Philadelphia Eagles' struggles in 2011 could be a direct reflection of them building their roster with a fantasy-football mentality, and it may cost Andy Reid his job. 

The San Francisco 49ers currently have 10 wins and are among the best teams in the league despite their loss at Arizona. This wouldn't have even been in the train of thought for most observers just three months ago. Now they have the brightest future of any team in the league and will probably dominate their division for the foreseeable future. 

Today I am going to focus on 50 things that we have learned in 2011 that will surely come to define the 2012 season. 

50. Blaine Gabbert Will Not Be the Jaguars Opening Day Starter in 2012

No matter the situation, rookie quarterbacks are supposed to make steady progressions as a rookie. This is something that Blaine Gabbert hasn't done despite yesterday's blowout win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

With a new ownership group and head coach probably in the fold during the offseason, you could easily see the Jaguars attempt to bring in either a veteran or a rookie to compete with Gabbert for the starting job.

He hasn't shown much of anything up to this point, so it remains extremely possible that this unnamed signal-caller will beat Gabbert out in training camp.

Either way, expect an open competition.  

49. Major Free Agents Will Change Teams

A tremendous amount of big-name free agents will be leaving their respective teams when free agency begins following the season. You are going to see the likes of DeSean Jackson, Vincent Jackson and probably Ben Grubbs uproot the city that drafted them for new riches in a new location. 

This happens every season, but it will be more magnified as one of the best free-agent classes hits the market. You will see certain players franchised only to be traded later. DeSean Jackson promises to be one of the most popular targets for teams looking for a downfield receiving threat. 

48. At Least 5 Quarterbacks Will Go in First Round of April's Draft

It is pretty much guaranteed that Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley, Landry Jones and Heisman winner Robert Griffin III will all be first-round picks in April's draft. In fact, I strongly believe that all four will be top-10 picks. This is the deepest and most-talented quarterback class in recent history.

Last season saw Christian Ponder slide into the first round after being projected as a mid-round pick before the offseason combine and All-Star games. His stock rose to a point that the Florida State product ending up being drafted just outside of the top 10.

I see a few different “second-tier” quarterback prospects that may, in fact, slide into the first round following surprising offseason performances at NFL Draft-related events. Ryan Tannehill (Texas A&M), Nick Foles (Arizona) and Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State) come to mind first.

Among the teams selecting in the last half of the first round that could use a quarterback of the future are the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and even the New York Jets. Additionally, you could see a team that missed out on the top four quarterbacks trade up into the latter half of the first round to select one of the three mentioned above.

47. Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens Will Not Be on Any Opening-Day Rosters

DeSean Jackson aside, the days of the diva wide receivers are over. They have been replaced by soft-spoken and hard-working individuals such as Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Wes Welker and Mike Wallace.

Ochocinco is no longer a real impact player, Owens failed to sign with any team this year and both still have a reputation for being difficult teammates on and off the field.

NFL teams might make the decision to just ignore the future Hall of Fame wide receivers and go another route in upgrading at that position. After all, the offseason promises to have a lot of stud free agents and draft prospects at wide receiver.  

46. Michael Crabtree Will Be a Pro-Bowl Receiver in 2012

One thing that has jumped out to me this season is the fact that Michael Crabtree has turned into one of the most all-around wide receivers in the entire NFL.

He might not be putting up the statistics that Calvin Johnson, Wes Welker or Mike Wallace are putting up, that isn't the point. The former Texas Tech star runs crisp routes, catches everything thrown in his direction and is one of the best blocking receivers in the entire league.

Once Alex Smith gets more comfortable with the 49ers offense and the offensive line continues to improve, Crabtree's numbers are going to reflect how he has played in 2011.

You can expect him to hover around 90 receptions, 1,300 yards and double-digit touchdowns this season. Finally, the enigmatic wide receiver appears to have turned the corner.  

45. Marvin Lewis Is a Good Head Coach Without All the Distractions

Just look what Marvin Lewis can do with a team that doesn't create off-field distractions and doesn't have multiple diva personalities. I find it hard to imagine that any coach could succeed with the distractions that Marvin Lewis has had with the Bengals over the course of the last five years or so.

Carson Palmer wanting out, Chad Ochocinco playing the role of an egocentric wide receiver, Terrell Owens being T.O., as well as dozens of arrests.

This season, Lewis has led a talented but young team to a surprising winning record. Many skeptics, including myself, concluded that Cincinnati would be one of the worst teams in the entire league. This obviously has not been the case, and the Bengals find themselves in the playoff race in mid-December.

Lewis has been a defensive genius over his career, and that is one of the primary reasons why the Bengals are in the situation they are right now.  

44. John Gruden and Bill Cowher Will Be Manning the Sidelines in 2012

While college coaches might be a new phenomenon in the NFL, some teams are going to look at the veteran coaching route. Both Jon Gruden and Bill Cowher have been out of the league for a few years now and are probably itching to get back into the grind.

On that note, both had tremendous success as head coaches in the NFL and will be popular candidates if they make the decision to enter the coaching ranks again. The Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles will probably think long and hard about these two if they decide not to retain their current head coach.  

43. We Might Have Seen Hines Ward's Last Season in Pittsburgh

It has been a continuing theme throughout my articles this season. Some good things must just come to an end, and that could be the position that Hines Ward and the Steelers find themselves in following this season. At this point, Ward has lost a lot of the productivity that made him one of the most consistent wide receivers in the league over the course of the last decade.

On the same note, Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown appear to be solid No. 1 and No. 2 wide receiver options for Big Ben moving forward.

As hard as it may be for Steelers fans to grasp the notion of Ward playing on another team, there remains a strong possibility that this happens. However, retirement could also be in the cards. Either way, I don't see him back with Pittsburgh in 2012.

Of course, they will probably come out with a contract extension within the week just to prove me wrong.  

42. Beanie Wells Will Compete for NFC Rushing Title

Yes, you are reading this right. It is not a typo. Beanie Wells will challenge for the NFC rushing title in 2012. He has had a breakout 2011 season for the stumbling Arizona Cardinals and with Patrick Peterson has probably been their only bright spot.

I love the way Wells hits the hole running downhill and gets behind blockers downfield. He had an exceptional amount of talent coming out of Ohio State but just didn't know how to run in the NFL yet. This isn't the case anymore. Wells find the holes quickly and makes the right cuts at the right times.

You are probably looking at DeMarco Murray, Adrian Peterson, LeSean McCoy and Beanie Wells competing for the rushing title in 2012.  

41. Norv Turner Will Be on the Sidelines as an Offensive Coordinator Somewhere

As bad as a head coach that Norv Turner has been in the NFL, he has been just that good as an offensive coordinator. He led the Dallas Cowboys offense during their glory days of the 1990s and was even the 49ers offensive coordinator when it looked like Alex Smith was going to break out in 2006.

At some point it becomes evident that an individual is not head-coach material. We have seen that with Wade Phillips, who failed miserably in his couple of stints as the main guy but continues to dominate as a defensive coordinator.

Look for Turner to catch on in St. Louis, Chicago, Washington or Miami in 2012.

40. Mike Wallace Will Get His Money

I don't think there really is a question as to whether Mike Wallace is the Pittsburgh Steelers No. 1 wide receiver. He took over that role during the 2010 season, only to raise the stakes this year. He is on pace to have one of the best receiving seasons in the history of the heralded Pittsburgh Steelers franchise.

Wallace also adds another dimension to the Steelers offense by being able to expand the offense downfield and open up the intermediate routes by bringing defenders with him.

Wallace will be a restricted free agent following this season, and I fully expect the Pittsburgh Steelers to lock him up with a new, long-term deal. They are not going to want to wait until the 2012 offseason when they will have to either franchise Wallace or bid against other teams who will raise his price.  

39. Calvin Johnson Is What They Call...Really Good

When a quarterback has a receiver like Calvin Johnson, it makes his job so much easier. Throw the ball anywhere in his region, and you can expect him to make the play. It takes away the necessity of having to be nearly perfect on the outside passes.

Johnson had a ton of potential coming out of Georgia Tech, but he was somewhat raw. We have seen the future Hall of Fame wide receiver grow right in front of our eyes over the last couple of seasons. He runs precise routes, has soft hands, is physically dominating at the line and has that second burst of speed on the field.

You can fully expect Johnson to take the reins as the league's best wide receiver in the not-so-distant future.  

38. Matthew Stafford Isn't as Good as Many Make Him out to Be...Yet

Don't get me wrong, Matthew Stafford is one heck of a quarterback and will be a Pro-Bowl performer in the not-so-distant future. The issue that I have with him is that he doesn't show up when it counts the most. We have seen this multiple times against good teams this season.

He failed miserably in late-game situations against the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers, while struggling throughout the Lions' blowout loss to the Chicago Bears a few weeks back.

Detroit Lions fans are a hurry to anoint him as a savior of the franchise. That makes sense considering that he is the only “franchise” quarterback the team has had since the 1950s. Still, they might want to slow down a little bit.

Despite recent struggles the Lions are an up-and-coming team, but Matthew Stafford needs to start proving himself in the crunch time before he can be considered anywhere near an elite quarterback.  

37. The League's Situation Is the Best of All Major American Sports

The current situation with the Chris Paul debacle in the NBA is a prime example of that league being run into the ground due to an insufficient structure. Accordingly, they are becoming somewhat of a laughingstock.

The same can be said with MLB when teams like the Angels and Marlins can spend a quarter of a billion dollars to upgrade, while the Oakland Athletics have to trade away cheap stars in order to maintain a $40 million payroll.

Some people have concluded that the parity in the NFL isn't a good thing, but would you rather have a structure in place that reminds you of the competitive imbalance in MLB and the NBA?

36. San Francisco 49ers Defense Will Continue Dominance

The San Francisco 49ers are on a franchise record pace for points allowed and rush defense. Through the first 13 games of the 2011 season, they lead the NFL in scoring defense, just above 13 points per game.

This dominance has enabled to the 49ers to win 11 of those first 13 games and acquire the league's second-best record behind the Green Bay Packers.

On that note, it must be concluded that this dominance isn't a one-year phenomenon. The 49ers have a wide array of young up-and-coming players as well as proven veterans in their prime. Justin Smith, Carlos Rogers, Patrick Willis and Donte Whitner lead with the veteran presence. All four can be concluded to be in the prime of their career.

It is the young players that should excite 49ers' fans. Ray McDonald, Ricky-Jean Francois, NaVorro Bowman, Aldon Smith, Chris Culliver and Dashon Goldson lead that group. With a few offseason additions at key positions, the 49ers can have one of the best defenses in the modern history of the NFL in 2012.  

35. The Improvement of Christian Ponder Will Be Clear

Despite lack of overall success since taking over as the Minnesota Vikings' starting quarterback, I like what Christian Ponder has shown at such a young age. He seems to read defenses extremely well and has above-average pocket presence at this point.

No one ever questioned Ponder's talent. The issue that many, including myself, had was his ability to progress his game to the NFL. He seemed to lack the important skills that make quarterbacks successful in this league. That said, Ponder has improved on these aspects and seems to be making better reads and throwing less high-risk passes than what we saw at Florida State.

With Adrian Peterson and Kyle Rudolph as two nice complements, Ponder will continue to improve in 2012 and become one of the best overall 2011 quarterback prospects in the near future.  

34. Josh McDaniels Will Not Coach in the NFL

I understand that Josh McDaniels only had a month to implement his new system and get the players accustomed to the nuances of his game plan. That isn't a viable excuse, if you ask me. The St. Louis Rams offense is so bad at this point that someone has to take the fall for its complete ineptitude.

Since being one of the most sought-after assistant coaches in the NFL after a strong stint as the offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots, McDaniels has struggled to get his feet on the ground. He was horrible as the head coach for the Denver Broncos and hasn't been much better as the Rams' offensive coordinator.

The fact that St. Louis might not want to put Sam Bradford in the situation of having the QB work under three different offensive coordinators in three seasons might not be enough to save McDaniels job. This is how bad he has been this season.  

33. Michael Bush Will Be a Starting Running Back Somewhere

The Raiders don't have a lot of draft picks heading into 2012 due to trades made over the course of the last two seasons. They will find it hard to part with Bush because of McFadden's injury issues, but they might have to.

I can easily envision a scenario in which the Raiders use the transition tag on Bush in order to get some compensation for him. Despite only being in the league four seasons now, the former Louisville star will be 28 when the 2012 season begins. This means that he will be hitting his prime but may only have four seasons of above-average play before hitting that proverbial running back wall.

That said, I can see teams like the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots and Washington Redskins willing to give up a second-round pick for three years of Pro-Bowl-caliber play from Bush. It all depends on whether the Raiders are confident with McFadden and Taiwan Jones as their top two backs in 2012.  

32. College Coaches Will Become a New Phenomenon

Don't underestimate the impact that Jim Harbaugh's success with the San Francisco 49ers has had on the rest of the league. Previously, teams were scared to go into the college ranks in regards to the head coaching position. Just look at the track record prior to Harbaugh.

With a ton of up-and-coming college head coaches looking to make the jump to the NFL, I fully expect a few of them to get serious consideration.  

31. Matt Cassel Will Not Be the Kansas City Chiefs Starting Quarterback in 2012

You can place the blame on offensive scheme, lack of play makers on the outside, horrible offensive line play and injuries, but Matt Cassel has to take some of the blame for the Chiefs' lack of offensive success in 2011.

Even when Cassel was healthy, he played like a below-average starting quarterback. He wasn't as accurate as we have seen in the past, held on to the ball too long and didn't read defensive packages all too well.

Kyle Orton will probably get a tryout over the course of the final three games, and that could help the Chiefs made a decision in regards to their 2012 starting quarterback situation. It isn't out of the realm of possibility that Kansas City will release Cassel and re-sign Orton. It all depends on what happens over the course of the last few weeks.

One thing is for sure, Kansas City will look at all options in regards to their quarterback position. At this point I would hedge my bets on Cassel not being their starter heading into 2012.  

30. Ben Roethlisberger Is Literally Made of Steel

A lot of teams only carry two quarterbacks on their active roster. While this may seem like a gamble for the San Francisco 49ers, it makes sense for certain teams.

Pittsburgh is one of them.

There is no reason why the Steelers should be carrying three active quarterbacks on their roster. Big Ben could actually lose a thumb on his throwing hand and still show up to play.

As much as you might despise Roethlisberger off the field, it is hard to deny the true toughness that he has on the football field. This due is something special and has a pain threshold that probably equals Bettie Page look-alikes on Vivid Video.

Heading into 2012 you can fully expect Big Ben to play pretty much every game, no matter the injury issues that arise. Henceforth, there is absolutely no reason for Dennis Dixon to remain on the team. On that note, you can fully expect Dixon to be in a starting quarterback competition in another camp come August.

29. Matt Barkley Will Be the Seattle Seahawks' Opening-Day Starting Quarterback

The Seattle Seahawks might have played themselves out of a top-10 pick with recent success, but that doesn't mean that they aren't going to try to get one of the top quarterbacks in the draft.

To even the untrained eye, Tarvaris Jackson doesn't look like the long-term answer in the Pacific Northwest. Instead, he is more of a stop-gap filler until the Hawks' are actually ready to contend with the 49ers in the division.

A lot of scouts indicate that Heisman winner Robert Griffin III is the best fit for Seattle's offense. I couldn't disagree more. Matt Barkley, who played under Pete Carroll at USC, would be the best fit for his offense in Seattle.

That said, Barkley will probably go in the top five, and Seattle will be nowhere near that position when they select in the first round. This means that they will have to work out a trade in order to nab the USC product.

I will go on record and predict that a trade will be worked out and Carroll will get his man in April. This would fill one glaring hole on a roster that seems to have a nice mix of young talent.  

28. The Cincinnati Bengals Will Become AFC Contenders with Another Great Draft

The Cincinnati Bengals have had two consecutive extremely successful drafts. 2010 saw them get Jermaine Gresham, Carlos Dunlap, Jordan Shipley and future Pro Bowl defensive linemen Geno Atkins. Last season they were able to nab their franchise quarterback in Andy Dalton, a true No. 1 wide receiver in the form of A.J. Green and solid interior linemen prospect Clint Boling.

The 2012 draft promises to be no different. By virtue of their trade with the Oakland Raiders that sent Carson Palmer out west, Cincinnati has an additional first-round pick in April.

I envision them filling a need at running back and in the back four on defense, probably safety. The Bengals defense is already improved in 2011 and has a lot of young players who promise to improve over the course of the next calendar year.

This is a team that is 7-5 and in the midst of a surprising playoff run. They have all the necessary tools to be contenders in the AFC North over the course of the next few seasons. Look for the 2012 offseason to dramatically improve an already-talented roster.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars Will Take Long Look at Will Muschamp

Jack Del Rio's tenure as the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach cannot be seen as anything less than a downright failure at this point. Their new ownership group recognized this when they had a hand in his firing a couple weeks ago.

They are also savvy business people.

The hiring of the Florida Gators head coach would bring in a local guy with connections to the state of Florida. He is an up-and-coming head coach and would give the Jaguars that young presence in the locker room that has seemed to benefit teams like the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers.  

26. T.J. Yates Will Be Popular on Trade Market

I was a huge fan of T.J. Yates coming out of North Carolina in the 2011 draft. I just saw something in his abilities that seemed to translate well to the NFL. He can make nearly every throw on the field and reads the defense extremely well for such an inexperienced quarterback.

The rest of the 2011 season not withstanding, I fully expect teams to be lining up at the door of the Texans front office in the offseason. Yates has already proven that he can be a serviceable starting quarterback and take that next step to becoming above-average in the near future.

Teams in need of a quarterback that miss out on the upper-echelon prospects in the draft will come calling. You can expect the Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins to take a long look at Yates.  

25. Matt Moore Will Be the Miami Dolphins Opening-Day Starting Quarterback

Jeff Ireland seems to be indicating that he believes Matt Moore can handle the Dolphins offense past this season. As foolhardy as this may seem, he probably knows better than you or I in regards to Moore's abilities moving forward.

To me, it makes a whole much more sense to draft a quarterback in the first round, which Miami still might do. They could plan on having Moore hold down the starting job for a season while that young quarterback sits on the bench.

Still, I have the feeling that Ireland may make the decision to avoid that position in the first or second round, concentrating on other areas of need instead.

Either way, Moore will most likely be the Dolphins starting signal-caller come September 2012.

24. Buffalo Bills Will Overhaul Weak Defense

With Stevie Johnson, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller, the Bills seem all but set on the offensive side of the ball. They also have a surprisingly-solid offensive line made up of unheralded players.

It is the defense that has caused the downfall of this Bills team, their front seven specifically. Teams are running on them a lot better as of lately while their linebackers are unable to put any real pressure on opposing quarterbacks, which makes it hard for the secondary to succeed.

You can fully expect them to spend their first two picks on the defensive side of the ball and look for upgrades in a secondary that has been ravished by injuries through free agency.

At least, that is what my plan would be.  

23. Announcement Will Be Made That Raiders Will Have to Share 49ers New Stadium

It is becoming increasingly clear that the San Francisco 49ers will move to Santa Clara within the next few years. Many hurdles have already been passed, and the move appears to be imminent at this point. Some projections have them moving there by the start of the 2013 season, but that seems a little unrealistic.

Either way, the move is coming.

The same cannot be said about the Oakland Raiders. They have not had any success finding a location in Oakland and don't currently have the funding to break ground. There is a slim possibility that the Raiders just pack up and move to Los Angeles when their term is up in Oakland, but I just don't see that happening.

It makes more sense for them to rent from the San Francisco 49ers once they move to Santa Clara. This will probably face a lot of opposition from the powers to be within both organizations, but it makes sense for both. It would just be a short-term arrangement until the Raiders can clear the hurdles I mentioned above.  

22. Teams Will Enter Free Agency with More Caution Than in Previous Seasons

Teams didn't learn the lesson of the Washington Redskins of the last decade or so. They are sure to learn their lesson from the appalling performance of the Philadelphia Eagles this season.

Going big in free agency doesn't necessarily mean success on the field. In fact, a blue print of building through the draft has enabled teams like the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers to have tremendous success. This blueprint has been followed, with success, by the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions as well.

You will surely see big-name free agents change cities this offseason; I am not suggesting otherwise. What I am saying is that teams will take a step back before being major players in the market. They will look to build more through the draft and complement in free agency.

After all, the success of those teams mentioned above gives them multiple reasons to do so.  

21. Washington Redskins Will Draft a Quarterback in the First Round

It goes without saying that the Washington Redskins' quarterback situation is unsustainable at this point. John Beck and Rex Grossman will not get the job done and lead this franchise back to the playoffs. Simply put, they are not starter-caliber quarterbacks in the NFL.

With just four wins, the Redskins will probably have a top-10 pick, which will enable them to acquire one of the four top-tier quarterbacks in April's draft. There is no doubt in my mind that Daniel Snyder and Co. will go that route if it presents itself.

Whether Mike Shanahan is back or not is irrelevant as well. He fully understands the necessity to have a franchise-type quarterback lead the offense. Even with that, the 'Skins will lack the necessary playmakers to have an above-average offense, so they will also have to find upgrades elsewhere.

20. Jermichael Finley Will Not Be a Member of the Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers have done a great job of retaining their free agents without breaking the bank to do so. They also pick their battles as they relate to free agency. This is a team that will not overspend to retain their players or hit the market to sign an outside “upgrade.”

It is also well-known that Jermichael Finley isn't too happy with the strong possibility that Green Bay plans on using the franchise tag on him. This could cause some friction in an otherwise strong-knit locker room in Green Bay.

It is entirely possible that Green Bay will use the franchise tag on Finley in order to find a trade partner for the talented tight end. They do have other options at that position, and Aaron Rodgers doesn't rely heavily on tight ends in this system. This means that Finley's importance to the Packers' success isn't as great as some might think.

Just remember, they won the Super Bowl last season with him on injured reserve.  

19. DeSean Jackson Will Come Home to the San Francisco 49ers

A lot of teams are going to be turned off by the distraction that DeSean Jackson has caused for the Philadelphia Eagles so far this season. He is coming off as an immature diva that maintains more of an egocentric personality.

Despite all of this, multiple teams will look to acquire his services in the offseason. Among those teams will be his hometown San Francisco 49ers. Jackson could take a one-year contract with Harbaugh and Co. in order to up his stock heading into the 2013 offseason.

I say this because there is absolutely no way that the Cal product is going to get the money he thinks he is worth this offseason. Too many teams are going to have that proverbial red flag fly up in their face when determining whether or not to pay Jackson true No. 1 receiver money.

If this happens, Jackson's best bet would be to return home on a one-year contract, rebuild his image and work with Jim Harbaugh.

He would also fit the downfield-threat need that the 49ers currently have.  

18. Ndamukong Suh Will Begin Season on Suspension

Whether it is another confrontation on the field or a continuance of what seems to be a growing off-field issue with Suh, I would hedge my bets that he will begin the 2012 season on suspension. This is a guy that continues to show an unstable personality and seems to be on the breaking point.

My assumption that Suh is going to get himself into more trouble as the season concludes and the offseason begins isn't unfounded. He has a history of this, and you can only go by an individual's track record when drawing this conclusion.  

17. Chicago Bears Will Find a Way to Mess Up Matt Forte Situation

Note to Chicago Bears fans: Please respond to this article if you have a lot of faith in Jerry Angelo handling the Matt Forte contract situation.

As an outsider, I have a hard time understanding why he is still the head of the Bears front office. Angelo continues to mess up every single situation presented to him yet still collects a paycheck.

Matt Forte may indeed be the most valuable non-quarterback in the entire NFL, but it appears that the Bears have not gotten that memo. It goes without saying that the talented running back isn't happy with his contract situation and will have major issues with the Bears if they decide to use the franchise tag on him.

In this, I can envision a scenario in which the Bears decide to cut their losses and trade Forte. They would get a heavy bounty in return and not have to pay him top running back money. It isn't the brightest idea in the world, but as we already know, Jerry Angelo isn't the brightest bulb in the box.

Is he?  

16. Arizona Cardinals Will Get Some Competition for Kevin Kolb

Some people say that Kolb gets some leeway due to the shortened off-season and the fact that he joined Arizona just over a month before the first regular-season game.

I will not come to the same conclusion. Alex Smith did perfectly fine learning the 49ers playbook in that short amount of time as did Cam Newton in Carolina and Andy Dalton in Cincinnati. In fact, Carson Palmer even seems to be coming around in Oakland.

There comes a time when excuses are just that, excuses. Outside of raw rookie starting quarterbacks, the QB position boasts a win-and-succeed-now mentality, and Kolb has failed miserably in that aspect.

I understand that Arizona gave him over $20 million guaranteed and gave up a bounty to acquire his services, but that shouldn't really be taken into account when it comes to deciding if Kolb is a franchise quarterback.

On that note, I fully expect Arizona to either draft one of the second-tier quarterbacks in the second or third round or go after a viable veteran backup to compete with Kolb in training camp. At the very least, it may light a fire under Kolb that we haven't seen in four-plus years in the NFL.  

15. Colt McCoy and Peyton Hillis Will Not Start for the Cleveland Browns

One thing jumped out to me more than anything else on Thursday night. I had more confidence in Seneca Wallace leading the Browns to a touchdown late in the game in the red zone than I did Colt McCoy. That speaks volumes in regards to my personal take on the inability of the former Texas star being a starting-caliber quarterback in the NFL.

Cleveland now owns two first-round picks, one that promises to be in the top 10. This enables them to get a quarterback that doesn't have the physical limitations that McCoy has. Landry Jones, Robert Griffin III and Matt Barkley might all be available when the Browns select in April. This depends on how they finish the remainder of the season.

One thing is for sure: Colt McCoy doesn't appear to be the quarterback that can lead the Browns out of the cellar of the AFC North.

Peyton Hillis will also be calling another city home in 2012. I really don't believe that the situation between he and the Browns front office is reconcilable. This means that the Browns will have to go with Montario Hardesty in 2012 or draft a replacement in April because their running game is in complete shambles right now.  

14. An Elite Wide Receiver Will Join the New England Patriots

Wes Welker and Deion Branch seem to complement one another a great deal in the Patriots system. Tom Brady also loves to utilize two tight-end sets, so some would conclude that wide receiver wouldn't be of utmost importance in the offseason.

Well, they would be wrong. There is a reason why the Patriots traded for Chad Ochocinco. They would feel more comfortable with another go-to guy on the outside.

There won't be a shortage of those type of players on the free-agent market this offseason. Vincent Jackson, Reggie Wayne, DeSean Jackson, Brandon Lloyd, Dwayne Bowe and Marques Colston will all be on the free-agent market.

Look for the Patriots to make a play for one of the aforementioned receivers and move Welker into the slot, where he can do a lot of major damage against opposing nickel backs and safeties. It would just make him that much more dangerous.  

13. Alex Smith's Progression Will Lead Him Up the Ranks of NFL Quarterbacks

There is one misnomer when it comes to Alex Smith's success in 2011. It hasn't just been limited to this season. In reality, Smith has continued to progress as a quarterback over the course of the last three seasons.

Over his last 33 starts, Smith has thrown 49 touchdowns compared to just 27 interceptions, completed well over 60 percent of his passes and won over 61 percent of his starts.

I am not discounting what Jim Harbaugh has done for Alex Smith's career. He has enabled the quarterback to work on what he does best and eliminate certain weaknesses in his game.

This progression promises to continue moving forward as Smith gets more comfortable in the hybrid West Coast offense. Additionally, you can fully expect the 49ers front office to give Smith another viable outside threat at the wide receiver position. Right now they are playing with pretty much three receiving threats, but that will not be the case in 2012.

All this leads me to believe that Alex Smith will be a Pro-Bowl caliber quarterback in 2012 and that Jim Harbaugh will enable him to open up the offense a lot more. After all, that is what we have seen over the course of the last month or so.

12. Carson Palmer Is the Right Fit for the Oakland Raiders

I understand that Carson Palmer has struggled a bit during his first few games with the Oakland Raiders. That is expected when a quarterback joins a new team and a new scheme in the midst of a season.

Still, it is pretty obvious that Palmer brings a dimension to the Raiders offense that they have not had since Rich Gannon. He is able to open up the offense and get the ball to their young receivers down the field on the outside. Considering that the Raiders have talented young receivers up and down their roster, this will only help them moving forward.

No matter what happens moving forward this season, the Raiders offense will be in much better shape heading into 2012 with Palmer as their starting quarterback.  

11. Tim Tebow Has Made John Elway's Decision Easy

Unless John Elway wants to be driven out of town in a white Bronco with a police procession, he really has to deeply consider keeping Tim Tebow as his starting quarterback in 2012. Just look at the excitement that the former Heisman winner has brought to the city in just eight short weeks.

After a 1-4 start, the Broncos are now currently in the midst of a playoff race, and a lot of that has to do with Tebow's clutch play.

Still, he isn't the type of quarterback that John Fox and John Elway envisioned leading the Broncos over the course of the next few seasons. In fact, Tebow is bringing the option to a league that has been without it for the better part of the last half century.

If Tebow leads the Broncos to the playoffs, which seems relatively likely, there is absolutely no way that the Denver Broncos front office can justify replacing him with a rookie quarterback or overrated veteran free agent.  

10. Cam Newton Will Lead the Carolina Panthers to a Winning Record

The rookie signal-caller is currently on pace to shatter numerous rookie quarterback records and has led his team to more wins than they had in 2010. That said, the Carolina Panthers are definitely not a complete team as of yet and are not ready to contend for a playoff spot.

That is what the offseason is for. I envision a scenario in which the Panthers listen to offers for Jonathan Stewart in order to pick up additional picks or upgrades on the defensive side of the ball. With Carolina's offense already looking dynamic, they will mainly focus on defensive upgrades at every core position along the unit.

This should enable the Panthers to continue their progression, overtake the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the third-best team in the NFC South and even challenge the Atlanta Falcons behind the Saints. If so, it is entirely possible that they will win more than eight games. You also have to remember that they will most likely be playing a last-place schedule, which will help out a great deal.  

9. San Francisco 49ers Dominance in NFC West Will Continue in 2012 and Beyond

The talent gap from the San Francisco 49ers to the rest of the NFC West is ever-apparent today At times it seems that divisional opponents don't even belong on the same football field as the 49ers. This is evidenced by their domination in the division over the course of the last couple seasons.

Now the 49ers are winning outside the division, which has led to them already clinching the division with four games remaining on the schedule.

San Francisco is built to dominate the division in 2012 and beyond. They have one of the best cap situations in the entire NFL, free agents are going to want to come to the Bay and their front office seems to run as smoothly as any in the NFL.

The talent gap may be narrowed a little bit with the other teams in the division picking much higher than the 49ers, but that isn't enough to close it completely. Look for the 49ers to dominate the NFC West for at least the next three or four seasons.

Note: The 49ers' loss in a trap game against the Arizona Cardinals yesterday really doesn't do much to change the scenario that I have laid out. You need to show up for every game, no matter the level of the opponent you play. The 49ers did not do that yesterday. 

8. Drew Brees Will Challenge 6,000-Yard Passing Mark

In order for a quarterback to throw for 6,000 yards in a season, he would have to average 375 passing yards per game throughout the 16-game schedule. Drew Brees has already thrown for well over 4,000 yards and is on pace to break Dan Marino's single-season passing record.

We can talk about balance in regards to the New Orleans Saints offense until we are blue in the face, but why change something that works? Brees has proven that he can lead one of the league's top offenses by throwing the ball over 40 times per game. Why change that?

With Lance Moore already back in the fold, another year of Jimmy Graham in the system and the likely return of Marques Colston, Brees is going to have these weapons for the foreseeable future. I don't think it is out of the realm of possibility that Brees can challenge the 6,000 yard mark in 2012, no matter how insane it may sound.  

7. Tom Coughlin Will Not Be the New York Giants Head Coach

The New York Giants have way too much talent to be playing like a mediocre team. Whether or not they win the NFC East is irrelevant at this point; New York needs to do some damage in the playoffs in order for Coughlin to secure his job past the 2011 season.

Tom Coughlin has had his ups and downs as the head coach of the Giants, but they really have not done much in regards to postseason success following that dramatic Super Bowl run a few years back.

New York is too big of a stage for mediocrity, and an 8-8 or 9-7 record just won't get it done at this point.

6. Tony Romo Will Not Be the Starting Quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys

Much like the San Francisco 49ers out West, the Dallas Cowboys fan base doesn't have a lot of patience for under-performing quarterbacks. After all, this is a franchise that has had the likes of Don Meredeth, Roger Staubach, Danny White and Troy Aikman call it home.

It goes without saying that Tony Romo has struggled a great deal in crunch-time situations. He has followed up stellar regular-season performances with below-average games in the postseason. This reputation continues to follow Romo, and he hasn't done much to change it.

If Dallas falls to make the playoffs or are one-and-done after winning the NFC East, a wide array of individuals will call for Romo's head. Some will say that it is time for this team to move on, and I might be inclined to agree with that.

Whether Dallas drafts a quarterback or goes the free agent/trade route, there does remain a possibility that Romo will not be their starting quarterback in 2012. A lot of this depends on how the remainder of the season plays out.

Peyton Manning, anyone?  

5. Andy Reid Will Be Fired

There is absolutely no reason why a team as talented as the Philadelphia Eagles should be projected to have a top-10 pick at this point.

Yet this is where Andy Reid and Co. finds themselves today. He has been the most successful head coach in Philadelphia Eagles history but has been unable to deliver the longsuffering fan base a Super Bowl championship.

All “good” things must come to an end, and that appears to be the case with Andy Reid's tenure as the head coach of his underachieving franchise.

4. DeMarco Murray Will Challenge Dallas Cowboys Single-Season Rushing Record

DeMarco Murray's success isn't a flash in the pan. I had always said that his running game translates better to the NFL than it did college ball. And I have been vindicated to some extent by his performance this season.

Whether it is Tony Romo leading the offense or some other veteran quarterback. Whether Jason Garrett is the head coach or not are both irrelevant at this point. Murray will get his touches and yards in 2012.

I fully expect the Cowboys to employ a run-first offense much like the one we saw with Emmitt Smith and the triplets in the 1990s. Add the fact that Dallas has a really good young offensive line, and you come to the conclusion that Murray should see a lot of success moving forward.

If he gets 25-30 carries on a consistent basis, there is no reason to expect that Murray will not destroy the Cowboys' single-season rushing record in 2012.  

3. Do or Die Season for Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez

Barring another major postseason run, the New York Jets will once again fall short of their ultimate goal, a Super Bowl title. Their front office and ownership group have spent a lot of time and money in putting together a team that many expected to be contenders.

It hasn't happened in 2011, and this team continues to underperform a great deal. Mark Sanchez has not taken that next step to elite status and seems to be nothing more than a marginal starting quarterback in the NFL, while Rex Ryan continues to make horrible in-game decisions that have cost this team a win or two.

We all know that playing and coaching in New York means a magnified media spotlight and restless fan base. This was in full force when the fans in Jersey booed Sanchez against the Bills despite him throwing four touchdown passes.

Meanwhile, the window of success in New York is closing a great deal. Santonio Holmes is currently in his prime, Plaxico Burress isn't getting any younger and the core of their defense is currently in the window of their prime. We all know that window closes relatively quickly in the NFL.

Both Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez needs to step up their game or face the possibility of being exiled in short order.  

2. Peyton Manning Has Taken His Final Snap for the Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck just recently said he wouldn't mind playing behind a veteran quarterback next season. I highly doubt that the imminent No. 1 overall pick was just saying that to look good. He is a smart guy and understands that sitting behind Manning for a year or two could really help his career.

I am not sure that Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts believe the same thing. The former probably wants to contend for a championship if he does decide to come back in 2012. Even with Manning on board, I highly doubt that the Colts would be a playoff contender next season.

This lead me to my ultimate conclusion. Peyton Manning will be calling another city home in 2012. While his contract may be considered untradeable by a majority of rival front offices, some team might take a flier on the future Hall of Fame quarterback. If not, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility that the Colts outright release him.

This isn't without precedent. The San Francisco 49ers traded Joe Montana during the latter years of his career, Donovan McNabb was traded within the Eagles division following the 2009 season and Dan Marino had options after the Dolphins indicated they were moving on before he decided to just hang 'em up.

Possible suitors that jump out to me are the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets—all of whom have more than serviceable starting quarterbacks but wouldn't mind throwing it all in for a run at the Super Bowl over the next two or three seasons.

1. Green Bay Packers Will Go into 2012 Season as Back-to-Back Super Bowl Champs

I guess it was foolhardy for me to believe that the Oakland Raiders would go into Lambeau and beat the defending Super Bowl champions. Initially, I thought that a good running game and solid defense would expose any weaknesses that the Packers have. I couldn't have been more wrong. 

With the 49ers' lack of effort in their loss to the Arizona Cardinals yesterday, the Packers all but wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. This means that San Francisco, New Orleans or any other NFC "contender" will have to go into Wisconsin to win a January playoff game. 

The likelihood of that happening isn't too great at this point.