The negotiations are over and football is back in town! After an accelerated off-season with two weeks of frenzied player movement, the NFL pre-season begins this weekend and here are five team to watch closely.
Arizona Cardinals
In two years, the Cardinals went from a nerve-wracking Superbowl loss to the fifth worst team in the league. The reason for that? Kurt Warner.
Having endured a year of trial and error to no avail, the Cardinals have spent big this off-season to acquire veteran QB Kevin Kolb from Philadelphia.
Despite playing little last season due to the unbenchable form of Michael Vick, Kolb remained the highest-rated available QB in the league.
With question marks over his ability and the high price Arizona payed, there are doubts over whether he can transfer his West Coast Offence skills into Arizona’s spread offence instituted by Warner.
Spending big on offence, the Cardinals also acquired Pro Bowl TE Todd Heap.
Maximising TE offence, Heap may be Kolb’s second read with no proven WR across from Larry Fitzgerald. The departure of WR Steve Breaston has promoted second year WR Andre Roberts to second WR.
Having struggled to catch punts last season, Roberts looks the weakest aspect of the Cardinals offence.
If Kolb can prove his value as a starting QB, expect a huge year of receptions from Fitzgerald and Heap.
Carolina Panthers
Finishing last year as the worst team in the league, new head coach Ron Rivera has already thrown a spanner in the works with the first depth chart released.
Having spent the number one draft pick on QB Cam Newton and voicing total commitment to him, Rivera has listed Newton as backup to second year QB Jimmy Clausen.
Unable to throw as accurately as Clausen throughout training camp, this only rekindles questions of whether Newton was worthy of the number one pick.
With key WR Steve Smith injured for the pre-season, Carolina will be fielding one of the youngest offensive sets in the league to accompany their group of young QB’s. WR Armanti Edwards must show something in the pre-season after providing nothing last season.
Promoted to second WR after an impressive rookie season as a sixth round draftee, David Gettis has spent the off season working closely with Clausen.
Denver Broncos
Ladies and gentleman, Elvis has left the building. But he’s back!
Having led the league in sacks two seasons ago, DE Elvis Dumervil failed to make an appearance last season after tearing a pectoral muscle during training. Losing their All-Pro sack machine who finished 2009 with 17, the Broncos defence was the worst in the league giving up more yards and points per game than any other team.
Having drafted LB Von Miller with the second pick in the draft, the Bronco defence will be revitalised with Dumervil and Miller combining for a one-two punch capable of landing 20+ sacks in the season.
Despite constant media reports linking QB Kyle Orton to Miami, he has remained in Denver where he has held off fan favourite Tim Tebow for the starter job as they enter the first pre-season game. Despite being booed by fans during training, Orton has consistently proved more accurate than Tebow who is itching to start.
As what looms to be the most exciting QB battle in the league, suitors are lined up for Orton if Tebow can deliver on the potential he showed throughout college.
New England Patriots
Bill Belichick. Is he a genius or is he insane? Based on his record, you have to say genius.
With an abundance of future draft picks to deal with at his disposal, Belichick paid peanuts (a 5th round pick) for two-time All-Pro DE Albert Haynesworth.
Battling disciplinary issues with Washington Belichick’s old-school ways, Haynesworth is expected to come into line to replicate his All-Pro form. At the reasonable age of 30, this acquisition is shaping to be the best of the off-season.
Further defying traditional wisdom, the Patriots signed four-time All-Pro WR Chad Ochocinco from Cincinnati again for peanuts (a fifth and sixth round pick). Unable to train at team facilities during the NFL lockout, the flamboyant Ochocinco spent his off-season trying out with MLS team Sporting Kansas City before attempting bull riding.
Labelled as a ‘culture killer’ by a friend of mine, Ochocinco’s tweeting has reduced since his arrival at Foxborough.
Having paid nothing for these two once-superstars, Belicheck has lost nothing and has everything to gain. If things don’t work out he will have no hesitation cutting them during the season as he did with troublesome Randy Moss last season.
Philadelphia Eagles
Not even the most experienced NFL analysts predicted anything close to what the Eagles have done in the off-season. With Michael Vick the clear starter, Philadelphia offloaded Kevin Kolb to Arizona for Pro-Bowl CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie and a second round pick.
Replicating the Vick experiment by signing controversial QB Vince Young from Tennessee, the biggest bombshell of free agency dropped days later.
The Eagles rocked the NFL by signing four-time All-Pro CB Nnamdi Asomugha, the biggest name in free agency. Asomugha, Rogers-Cromartie and three-time CB Asante Samuel make Philadelphia’s pass defence near impenetrable.
To add to their league best CB trio, the Eagles have solidified their defensive line with the signings of DT Cullen Jenkins and DE Jason Babin. Jenkins is coming off a 7.0 sack season culminating in a Superbowl ring and Babin a 12.5 sack season with Pro-Bowl selection.
If forging what looks to be the best defence in the league wasn’t enough, Philadelphia have handed Michael Vick another offensive weapon by signing WR Steve Smith from the New York Giants. The Giants single season reception record holder will back up WR’s Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson.
Led by Vick, expect 300 yard passing games every week.
If Andy Reid can effectively pull together all of his off-season acquisitions, the Eagles will be genuine Superbowl favourite.
Early Superbowl prediction: New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles
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