Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III passes the ball during the second half of an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Landover, Md.
NEW ORLEANS — Reality set in Monday for NFL fans. The next meaningful down won’t be played for seven months.
The good news is the incredible demand for information and the number of outlets that provide it means there is no offseason for football news.
There will be plenty of interesting developments beginning as soon as, well, yesterday, when the Detroit Lions cut insubordinate wide receiver Titus Young.
Here’s a look at 10 intriguing storylines to watch as players conduct their offseason workouts on the practice field while teams reshape their rosters through free agency and the draft.
1. Robert Griffin III’s recovery from a torn ACL
This may be the most closely watched rehab in the history of the NFL. From the time Griffin was sitting in Dr. James Andrews’ facility the day after his surgery last month, he was surrounded by about a dozen Washington Redskins employees — doctors, trainers and members of the media-relations crew. This situation will be carefully monitored and managed from a physical and perception standpoint. The Redskins would be wise to not rush Griffin and allow Kirk Cousins to begin the season as the starter while Griffin remains on the PUP list.
2. Sean Payton gets to work rebuilding the New Orleans Saints
In addition to regaining organizational pride after the bounty scandal, there are some holes on the roster that need to be filled. Oh, and the team has yet to hire a defensive coordinator. Look for coach Sean Payton, a fiery presence in a normal year, to be ultra-vocal this offseason in practices and OTAs as he tries to reestablish a dominant mentality.
3. Joe Flacco’s contract
Imagine the backlash if the Super Bowl MVP comes anywhere close to the July deadline to sign his franchise tender without having a new long-term deal. The Baltimore Ravens understand that, and that’s why both sides have said this should be a fairly smooth negotiation.
Like any contract negotiation, there will be some hard lines taken at some point and perhaps the franchise tag will be used to provide time for further talks. But don’t expect it to linger into the summer.
Comments
Powered by Facebook Comments
