November 16, 2019, stands as a dark day for Alabama football. The images of watching number 13 for the Crimson Tide rolling on the field in agony and being carted off was a horrific sight for any fan to swallow. After a gutsy showing in a loss to LSU, their star quarterback being rewarded like this proves the football gods have a sick sense of humor, both for collegiate and professional athletes. Alabama would end up winning the battle that day, but the fact that they are missing the College Football Playoff for the first time since its inception signifies that the cost was far too great.
For Tua Tagovailoa, the hip injury cast a dark cloud over his draft status, putting up a serious red flag and limiting his chances of a high draft pick. For Alabama, losing their star quarterback played a role in a season that fell short of expectations. Both sides came out disappointed, and nothing cures disappointment more than redemption.
Which brings us to the core of this article: what happens if Tua decides to prove himself and remain in Tuscaloosa for his senior year?
For one thing, it makes 2021’s quarterback crop one of the most exciting in recent memory, maybe even more so than 2018’s quartet of Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, and Josh Rosen. Likely joining Tua would be Trevor Lawrence of Clemson and Justin Fields of Ohio State, two of the most exciting young players in college football today. Depending on what Jake Fromm of Georgia, Jacob Eason of Washington, and Jordan Love of Utah State choose to do, more prospects may arise for the upcoming year. And that’s not counting any breakouts or star transfers that 2020 will inevitably provide. Either way, if Tua stays, that’s at least three potential lottery tickets at football’s most important position.
As far as this year is concerned, Tua deciding to stay ends the current debate between whether he or LSU’s Joe Burrow is better. The likely Heisman Trophy winner becomes the undisputed top guy at the quarterback position, and his stock will skyrocket even more than it already has over the last few months. It would sound like Burrow is the shoo-in for the number one pick, which currently means heading off to the Cincinnati Bengals with hopes that he can turn the franchise’s luck around.
However, let’s present another question: with all of the information provided, and with all of the players likely available for the 2020 draft, is Burrow to Cincinnati truly a guarantee?
Think back to the 2021 draft for a second. Three relatively good chances at landing a franchise quarterback, three potential rises in stock if the players stay, and at least one theoretical breakout that turns the college football landscape on its head. There’s enough promise to get NFL scouts salivating, hoping to get their hands on a hot commodity or unearth any hidden gems laying around. With a theoretically better chance for success in 2021 than 2020, it’s highly possible that the rebuilding teams are willing to sacrifice another season in order to land a potential superstar.
Also working against Burrow is the talent that this year’s draft class, providing multiple answers for different positions. Need a surefire number 1 receiver? Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) and CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma) have you covered. Need someone to protect the edge and keep the quarterback upright? Say hello to Andrew Thomas (Georgia), Tristan Wirfs (Iowa), and Austin Jackson (USC). On the other side of the ball, Chase Young of Ohio State is a Heisman finalist himself, an edge rusher who a team can build their defense off of for the next decade. A.J. Epenesa (Iowa) is also another intriguing option, as is Derrick Brown (Auburn) if looking at interior defensive linemen. Defensive backs also come in nice supply, with Jeff Okudah (Ohio State) and two LSU defensive backs in Grant Delpit and Kristian Fulton leading the charge. With all of this talent at the top of the class, teams will have no problem if they’re looking to draft based off of pure need.
Now let’s look at the current top 10 in the draft order and assess the situation. The Giants (#2), Redskins (#3), and Cardinals (#6) all drafted quarterbacks this past season. The Jaguars (#7) and Jets (#9) both have at least another year before they start thinking about another quarterback. The Lions (#5) and Falcons (#8) both have established QB1s and have more pressing needs to attend to. With that, the choices are whittled down to three. There’s the obvious choices in the Bengals (#1) and Dolphins (#4). It was once the consensus that whoever between Burrow or Tua was not drafted by Cincinnati would be heading to South Beach as the centerpiece of the Dolphins’ rebuilding effort. However, without Tua and with the added prospects of Lawrence and Fields, would anyone really fault either team with going for a top all-around prospect? Young would be a slam dunk first pick for the Bengals, while the Dolphins could use help almost all across the board. Getting another franchise cornerstone outside of a quarterback now may be risky, but if a top quarterback prospect is at the other end of the rainbow, it will be all worth it in the end.
Which brings us to the last team up: the Chargers with the number 10 pick. Philip Rivers is enduring a rough season, and at his age, there may be reason to believe he’s in decline. Tyrod Taylor is there, but he’s more of a stopgap option with familiarity to head coach Anthony Lynn. If Burrow somehow slides all the way to them, the Chargers could be the team to swoop in on him. They have no real intention to be close to the top of the draft order next year, so landing a quality prospect like Burrow and building him up for at least a year is definitely in the realm of possibility. Of course, with the poor offensive lines the Chargers have consistently trotted out over this decade, they have more than enough reasons to go after an offensive lineman as well. At least one of Wirfs or Jackson should be up on the board when the Chargers are on the clock, so if this situation plays out, the ball would be firmly in GM Tom Telesco’s court.
There’s also the chance that a team trades up into the top 10 for Burrow, as well. The Panthers can use a quarterback if Cam Newton truly has played his final down in Charlotte. The Buccaneers will need a replacement for Jameis Winston. The Titans look to move on from Marcus Mariota, and might also look at insurance policies for Ryan Tannehill. Maybe even the Cowboys could look into options if they botch Dak Prescott’s extension and he wants out.
No matter how the situation plays out, Tua deciding to forego the 2020 Draft in favor of cementing himself as a top-flight quarterback has the chance to cause some chaos. 2021 becomes the new year of the quarterback, and teams might think about taking this next opportunity to build up their overall team before pouncing on the quarterback position. Maybe Tua decides to take his chances this year and the debate rages on for the next decade. There are many college football players who will make waves with their choices to declare, but very few, if any, will make the same impact that Tua’s decision does.
As I said last week, Week 1 is usually a time for overstatements and hasty analysis over first impressions. Week 2 is a nice little palate cleanser in that regard, telling fans what might be real and what was just a bunch of hot air.
Opinions over how teams will fare should be mostly flexible until around the first month or so, but it’s still interesting to figure out which teams are looking strong. There are plenty of Super Bowl contenders that can be identified, and at least a few others that are investing in a shiny new tank.
For the interest of time and efficiency, the format of this segment will be changed, at least for this week. Instead of putting in the scores and giving an analysis of each team, I’ll make a list of the 32 teams, put their performance from last week in, and explain what I think about each team.
Let’s have some fun. Unless you’re a Dolphins fan. You deserve better than what you’re getting.
Arizona Cardinals (lost to Baltimore): There were obviously going to be kinks in the Cardinals offense, but their biggest one is alarming. The red zone efficiency for the Cardinals has been terrible, going 2-for-8 in two games. This week’s showing was especially damning, with three red zone drives ending in Zane Gonzalez chip shots. In a six-point game, those missed opportunities are that much harder to take. I think we’re starting to see the big problem with Kliff Kingsbury’s new scheme. Maybe try running the ball from time to time?
Atlanta Falcons (defeated Philadelphia): One word: clutch. That is the only way to describe a gutsy Sunday night performance. Matt Ryan saved an otherwise on-and-off day with a screen pass to Julio Jones that turned a fourth down into a touchdown. Isaiah Oliver stepped up and tackled Zach Ertz to prevent a first down. It was a nice bit of redemption after last week, where the Falcons struggled to get anything going. With the Saints dealing with issues (you already know what,) the Falcons suddenly have a real chance at the division.
Baltimore Ravens (defeated Arizona): It’s Week 2, and Lamar Jackson is still a top-two candidate for MVP. If last week’s game against Miami didn’t signify his improvement as a passed enough, this week showed his prowess as a dual threat. He threw for 272 yards and 2 touchdowns, while also getting 120 yards on 16 carries as a runner. Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews picked up right where they left off last week, and both have developed nice connections with Jackson. An offense that needed playmakers seems to be stocked with them now. For those asking about competition, Kansas City is this week. Get excited.
Buffalo Bills (defeated New York Giants): The Bills have been one of the more pleasant surprises of the league so far, dominating their in-state brethren to start. Josh Allen looked better, putting together a consistent game. The running game seems to be fine with Frank Gore and Devin Singletary, even if the carries should tilt more towards the latter. The defense got over an early hiccup to dominate the Giants for most of the game. This feels similar to the Panthers and the Dolphins last year, starting strong but tailing off before too long. At least they can beat up on the Dolphins and Jets like the Patriots?
Carolina Panthers (lost to Tampa Bay): The injury bug looks to have turned Super Cam into Clark Kent. Cam Newton, he of the banged-up throwing shoulder last year, has not looked right in these first two games. He’s in the negative for rushing yards this season, has been held without a touchdown in four straight games, and has dropped his last eight starts. Now with a foot injury from the preseason flaring up again, Newton is not a guarantee to make amends next week. This preseason saw one former number 1 pick retire due to injuries. I can’t help but feel we’re in for another shock sooner or later.
Chicago Bears (defeated Denver): Congratulations, Matt Nagy, you mad genius. You have found your kicker. After one of the more underrated and hilarious storylines of the offseason, it appears that the double-doink is slowly being erased. Eddy Pineiro has stepped in to his new role rather well, and proved it last week with three field goals in three tries. Even more crucial was his final kick, a 53-yard laser that gave the Bears the game. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the Bears, as Mitch Trubisky will need more than 120 yards to get the Rex Grossman comparisons out of his ears. As we said with Nagy, get it together, man.
Cincinnati Bengals (lost to San Francisco): This was the team I expected to see in my predictions. The Bengals went from being a surprise to finding themselves back under fire. The culprit was undoubtedly the defense, who could not hold San Francisco on third down and got gashed for 259 yards by a team missing its top two running backs. This team gave Russell Wilson fits, but Jimmy Garoppolo and crew was too much? No matter where the real Bengals fit between these two extremes, the result likely isn’t very good.
Cleveland Browns (defeated New York Jets): Just what the doctor ordered. After last week’s embarrassment against the Titans, beating down a weakened Jets team felt like a stress reliever. While Mayfield didn’t play a perfect game, he showed flashes of last year when he turned a quick route to Odell Beckham Jr. into an 89-yard touchdown. The real number 1 pick that has been playing amazing so far has been Myles Garrett, who notched three sacks and looks to be a dark horse for Defensive Player of the Year. There’s still competition, but the Browns still have a good shot to break their league-leading streak of missing the playoffs.
Dallas Cowboys (defeated Washington): And the price tag just went up a little bit. Dak Prescott put together another strong performance against a divisional rival last week. To be fair, this week was a complete game from the team, with both sides of the ball looking solid. Prescott, however, was under scrutiny for how he would fare in a contract year. Needless to say, he’s been outperforming even the most optimistic of expectations so far. He’ll be licking his chops against Miami this week, which should serve to put at least another million in his pocket, at least. Anyone else want to feel bad for the Dolphins now?
Denver Broncos (lost to Chicago): There are reasons to be concerned in Denver right now. Joe Flacco being up and down as usual. Phillip Lindsay being outperformed by Royce Freeman again. Most shocking, however, has been the defense. Everyone was excited about what Vic Fangio would bring to the table defensively. So far, it has been nothing. Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, and the pass rush have come up empty. The No-Fly Zone has come up with zero interceptions. If the Broncos want to make something out of this season, those numbers will have to come up soon.
Detroit Lions (defeated Los Angeles Chargers): Detroit fans had to enjoy being on the other end of the comeback for once. The plan continues to be turning Kenny Golladay into the new Megatron. While there’s no comparison at this point, the young receiver looks to be making good on becoming Matt Stafford’s new playmaking weapon. It wasn’t a perfect game, as the Lions benefited from the Chargers making too many mistakes. Either way, the Lions start out undefeated, so that’s at least something to celebrate.
Green Bay Packers (defeated Minnesota): Once again, Aaron Rodgers no longer will be asked to bail this team out. The defense pulled through, with Kevin King being the hero this time. Aaron Jones proved why he should be the bellcow for the Packers. Matt LaFleur’s offense looked nice to start before sputtering out. Consistency issues aside, the Packers are now gunning for the division. Now if only LaFleur can commit to making Aaron Jones like Derrick Henry. That man can ball.
Houston Texans (defeated Jacksonville): This time, the running game took center stage for the used car salesman. While Deshaun Watson and crew struggled, Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson came through. Hyde went from dead in the water in Kansas City to someone who might be a feature back in Houston, while Johnson continues to prove why he’s as underrated of a player as it gets. Despite J.J. Watt’s absence from the sack total, the Texans still came away with four total. The bad news is they also gave up four sacks, the eighth time they have given up that number or more. Don’t waste the first real franchise quarterback your team has had. Please?
Indianapolis Colts (defeated Tennessee): Another week of the Colts looking better than expected, except they end up with the win this time. Jacoby Brissett threw for three touchdowns, and the defense got 4 sacks against a helpless Marcus Mariota. Other than Derrick Henry, no Titan was able to have a productive day. The focus after the game, however, was on Adam Vinatieri. After missing two extra points this week, his status for the season was unclear. While he’ll play next week, continued struggles may see him follow Andrew Luck into the sunset. We’ll see what happens.
Jacksonville Jaguars (lost to Houston): While the legend of Gardner Minshew and that sweet, sweet mustache grows, the land of Duval received some troubling news. Jalen Ramsey, the star of the Jaguars secondary, has requested a trade. The writing was on the wall after an argument between Ramsey and coach Doug Marrone, but this feels like a move more akin to the NBA. Several teams have been linked to him, such as the Chiefs and Eagles, making it appear that Ramsey is a week-to-week proposition. Thursday could very well be his final game in a Jaguars uniform.
Kansas City Chiefs (defeated Oakland): Patrick Mahomes is already one of the most dominant quarterbacks of his generation, and he just turned 24. Including this game, Mahomes has now played four games where he has thrown for more than 350 yards and four touchdowns. Even more concerning? The Chiefs defense held their own and stopped the Raiders from scoring in the final three quarters. This is the only team that can hold a candle to New England right now.
Los Angeles Chargers (lost to Houston): Ty Long went from hero to zero just like that. After a game where he performed admirably in double duty, he melted down and missed two field goals that would have put the Chargers in the win column. His mistakes weren’t the only ones that hurt the team, but they have to be highlighted. With no word on kicker Michael Badgley’s status, the Chargers may be forced to play more special teams shenanigans again. The Spanos curse is alive and well.
Los Angeles Rams (defeated New Orleans): This wasn’t a true rematch, given the injury to Drew Brees. Still, Rams fans will be more than happy with a convincing performance. The offense showed signs of progress, but they still have yet to really hit their full potential. Meanwhile, Aaron Donald still has yet to produce a sack this year, something that should be expected to change soon. Once everything clicks, the Rams will be right back to the team that went to the Super Bowl.
Miami Dolphins (lost to New England): Fitting how history can be made in the league’s 100th season. Let’s put some things in perspective. The 1981 Baltimore Colts hold the record for the most points given up at 533. The 2012 New Orleans Saints gave up the most yards with 7,042. At the current pace, the Dolphins are expected to shatter both. Forget 0-16 being a very real possibility. This may actually be the worst team in NFL history. And again, Dolphins fans deserve much better. If you want to jump on any bandwagon, I understand. P.S.: Want to pull the plug on Devante Parker now?
Minnesota Vikings (lost to Green Bay): Kirk Cousins is on his way to becoming one of the most hated sports figures in Minnesota. A quarterback expected to be the final piece of the puzzle for the Vikings, he failed to reach the playoffs last year and struggled in a key divisional matchup. Three turnovers, including a game-sealing interception, is not a way to endear yourself to a long-suffering fanbase. If the Vikings fail to reach the playoffs once again, expect Rick Spielman to look long and hard for a potential replacement in next year’s draft.
New England Patriots (defeated Miami): No one’s going to say this win meant more than last week, but it goes to show the divisional dominance the Patriots have had throughout this century. The only real storylines here are Antonio Brown and Chase Winovich. Brown’s Patriots debut went as planned, grabbing four receptions for a team-high 56 yards and a touchdown. Preseason star Winovich also had a big day against a ransacked Miami offense, leading the team with 1.5 sacks. There will be comparisons to the almost-undefeated 2007 squad, which are a bit overblown…for now.
New Orleans Saints (lost to Los Angeles Rams): Even in the Big Easy, life comes at you fast. With just one injury, the Saints went from Super Bowl contender to a team in pure survival mode. Drew Brees will be gone for the rest of the first half of the season, so it will be up to Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill to salvage whatever hope there is left. At this point, the season hinges on how well one or both do at keeping the ship afloat. That said, is the Saints’ biggest rival the Rams or the referees? Your call.
New York Giants (lost to Buffalo): Well, Shurmur, you did it. A move that was met with ire from Giants fans last year has suddenly been accepted with a cold reality: Eli Manning was no longer starter material. Some may question the suddenness of the move, but let’s be real. Shurmur has one of the hottest seats in the league right now, and he has to show development at the most important position. Daniel Jones has Shurmur’s coaching life in his hands. The formerly-maligned sixth overall pick suddenly has a chance to make things right. Worked out for a certain Latvian unicorn that got flak from the New York faithful, so why not make it double or nothing?
New York Jets (lost to Cleveland): The Jets are one of the few teams that can safely press the panic button. Sam Darnold is out indefinitely with a case of mononucleosis. Backup Trevor Siemian is now out for the season with a broken leg. Luke Falk was respectable, but is he really a guy who can navigate a team out of trouble? $72 million cornerback Trumaine Johnson has now been benched. Star safety Jamal Adams looks like he wants out. The next games on the schedule are two against the Patriots, the Eagles, and the Cowboys. And the team gave up on third-rounder Jachai Polite before the season even began. This season has already been a butt fumble out of 10.
Oakland Raiders (lost to Kansas City): It was always going to be a tough ask for the Raiders to beat Kansas City. They did get a 10-0 lead before Patrick Mahomes remembered he was last year’s MVP. It hasn’t been a complete mess for the Raiders, which is a nice sign after the drama-filled offseason they had. It won’t be much easier, however. Five of the next six games for the Raiders are on the road, with one game in jolly old London and all five teams being at least .500. This is “the stretch” that determines whether teams are for real or nothing but poseurs. Good luck.
Philadelphia Eagles (lost to Atlanta): Some losses are hard to swallow. After coming back to almost surprise the Falcons, the Eagles just couldn’t come through in the clutch situations. Nelson Agholor dropped a surefire touchdown. Zach Ertz couldn’t get the first down. The team was ravaged with injuries. The good news is that the Eagles possess one of the best depth charts in the league, and Wentz is still the talented quarterback that Philly fans expected. They should still be okay, but this hiccup puts them a bit behind Dallas in the division.
Pittsburgh Steelers (lost to Seattle): The Triple B’s era is truly dead now. After parting ways with Bell and Brown in the offseason, Big Ben became a casualty of this year’s QB injuries. Unfortunately, the elbow injury suffered by Roethlisberger will end his season. With an 0-2 start and relying on Mason Rudolph to save the season, Pittsburgh has reached the nuclear winter. Minkah Fitzpatrick should help, but he can only add so much. A team that had hopes of the playoffs suddenly finds themselves in dire straits.
San Francisco 49ers (defeated Cincinnati): Similar to the Bills, an undefeated start was not something the 49ers were expected to have. Jimmy Garoppolo shook off a tough Week 1 by torching the Bengals defense. Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert made Jerick McKinnon look obsolete. Deebo Samuel may have had his breakout moment. Chances are Dante Pettis will be traded if he remains underused. After a summer of questions, Kyle Shanahan can breathe a bit easier, at least for now. The NFC West looks competitive this year, so there’s no time to rest on his laurels.
Seattle Seahawks (defeated Pittsburgh): Russell Wilson proved why he was worth the extension he was given. 300 yards and three touchdowns on the day is nothing to sneeze at. It helps that Will Dissly popped up with one of his signature games out of nowhere. There are a couple hiccups, such as the two lost fumbles and the four sacks taken. So far, though, the Seahawks look like a team aiming for the playoffs. I get this feeling Pete Carroll is the new Jim Harbaugh, where he makes the team better than it probably is. That’s a scenario for another time, however.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (defeated Carolina): Who would have thought the savior of the Bucs would be Todd Bowles? His defensive work has gone unnoticed, and has taken the spotlight off a below-average tenure as the head coach of the Jets. Shaquil Barrett, in particular, has looked like a star with four sacks in the first two weeks. Bowles’ defense has only let go of one touchdown so far, and absolutely dominated Christian McCaffrey in this primetime game. The offense did at least see the Chris Godwin that was hyped by fantasy gurus alike, so it’s not a total one-sided effort. As long as it produces results, it doesn’t really matter, does it?
Tennessee Titans (lost to Indianapolis): Hey, Titans, you do realize the used car salesman role is taken, right? After a dominant performance against the much-hyped Browns, the momentum skidded to a dead stop with the Colts. Derrick Henry was the only offensive player who looked good for Tennessee. Marcus Mariota got nothing going, no receiver topped 40 yards in the game, and Adam Humphries’s face is close to being put on milk cartons on every grocery store in Nashville. Ladies and gentlemen, we may have found our first cut candidate from this free agent class.
Washington Redskins (lost to Dallas): Two straight division losses to start the season. Ouch. The Redskins never got any pressure against Dak Prescott, and the running game was as bad for them as it was good for Big D. Trent Williams is only proving why his value is justified with each wall of defenders Derrius Guice or Adrian Peterson hit. With Jay Gruden’s job on the line, you have to wonder when he pulls the same move as the Giants and gets Dwayne Haskins in the starting lineup. Case Keenum’s been doing just fine, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
May the next week bring kinder fortunes. Good luck.
There’s nothing like Week 1 of the NFL season. Some people are patting themselves on the back for their bold predictions, while others are already trying to sweep theirs under the rug. Some preseason narratives were given legitimacy, while others ended up being shattered immediately.
The truth is, Week 1 somehow causes more hot takes than the offseason. Sure, it’s always important to come away with a strong first impression, but how much expectation can a team seriously have from one game? It is an exercise in futility, but one this article will seek to do anyway.
For this new segment, each team will be given one takeaway from the game they played. It can be a reason for excitement, cause for concern, or somewhere in between. The point is that the discussions here will provide things to look at for each team as the early part of the NFL season progresses. A few of these predictions will likely be proven wrong, but your friendly neighborhood writer has a bit of a masochistic streak in him, so why not? Let’s get on with the madness.
Green Bay Packers 10, Chicago Bears 3
Green Bay: Despite an underwhelming but somewhat expected performance against a strong Bears defense, Aaron Rodgers had to be smiling from the sideline. The new-look defense had an impressive showing on Thursday night, and some of the best contributions came from new faces. Preston and Za’Darius Smith combined for half of the Packers’ total sacks, while former Bear Adrian Amos caught a clutch interception that helped seal the deal. A mulligan can be called for Rodgers, Matt LaFleur, and crew this one time, but results will have to show up sooner rather than later.
Chicago: Rex Grossman is not the ideal quarterback to be compared to, but Mitch Trubisky is getting dangerously close to that mark. Trotting out Mike Davis in place of the more effective David Montgomery was also a mistake, but Trubisky never found his footing. The inconsistency is starting to annoy Bears fans to the point where the struggles of the last decade are starting to rear their ugly heads again. The fact Trubisky was drafted before Patrick Mahomes or Deshaun Watson is looking like more of a sore spot every week.
Tennessee Titans 43,Cleveland Browns 13
Tennessee: So maybe my prediction on the Titans underrated them just a bit. The cast of characters that contributed to this surprising upset were many. Derrick Henry (19-84-1) continued impressing as the heart of the offense. Delanie Walker (5-55-2) had a better-than-anticipated return from injury. A.J. Brown (3-100) made an impression as a deep threat. Cameron Wake (2.5 sacks, 1 safety) looks to be aging like a fine wine. Kevin Byard, Logan Ryan, and Malcolm Butler iced the game with three fourth quarter interceptions, with Butler getting a pick six. It’s just one week, but in a division as weak as the AFC South, strong performances like this could go a long way.
Cleveland: Cleveland fans get their first taste of expectations in a while, and what is their optimism rewarded with? Booing their team off the field after the first half and a fourth-quarter implosion. Anything that could go wrong truly did go wrong for the Browns. Costly penalties on both sides of the ball, Austin Seibert missing a PAT, Greg Robinson’s ejection further exacerbating the poor offensive line. The hype train hasn’t been derailed just yet, but the road turned out to be a lot rockier than anticipated.
Baltimore Ravens 59, Miami Dolphins 10
Baltimore: Who would have guessed Lamar Jackson would be the current front-runner for MVP in Week 1? Sure, he likely won’t win the award at the end of the season, and this performance was against a tanking Miami team, but it takes a serious detractor to take away from a game like this. Jackson did all of his damage as a passer, showing off an instant rapport with first-round rookie Marquise Brown for two deep touchdowns and going back to a reliable weapon in Mark Andrews. The Ravens even inserted Robert Griffin III onto the field when the game was out of reach, only for him to have a perfect completion percentage and throw a touchdown to Andrews for the final score of the game. Not bad for a running back, indeed.
Miami: A season that was already expected to be long just went longer. Apparently, the “revolt” for Laremy Tunsil’s trade was a catastrophic meltdown. Allowing 390 yards and 42 points in a game is bad enough, but in just one half? And now players are clamoring to get out of Miami as soon as possible, not content with wasting away in a tank. At least they’re not going to take this out on Brian Flores. Bill Belichick would struggle with a team like this.
Minnesota Vikings 28, Atlanta Falcons 12
Minnesota: Old-time football fans had to appreciate the Vikings on Sunday. The game could be summarized in the first couple of minutes. A sack on the first play. A blocked punt. Dalvin Cook looking rejuvenated. Kirk Cousins throwing a dime to Adam Thielen. The final score does not indicate the dominant performance the Vikings had. A similar performance of Green Bay could see Minnesota as the surprising top dog of the NFC North at this juncture of the season. Should be fun.
Atlanta: Nothing went right for the Falcons. Devonta Freeman struggled against the Vikings as there was no room to run. Julio Jones’s touchdown salvaged an otherwise awful game. An offensive line that still looked leaky lost Chris Lindstrom to IR. The defense looking okay, but nowhere close to good enough to stop the Vikings. The Falcons were seen as a potential dark horse to claim a playoff spot, but this may be quite the setback.
Buffalo Bills 17, New York Jets 16
Buffalo: Give the Bills some credit for showing resilience in the face of adversity. Josh Allen struggled in the first half, coughing up two fumbles and throwing two interceptions, including a pick 6 to C.J. Mosley. However, in the second half, the light turned on. Allen salvaged a rough game with two touchdowns to put the Bills up late. Devin Singletary also played a good role in the comeback, with most of his production coming in the second half. A weird game to watch, but for Bills Mafia, a win is a win.
New York Jets: If there was ever a need for proof to determine which free agent would be most important to the success of this team, this game gave it. Le’Veon Bell did well in his first game in green, but Mosley was the heart and soul of the defense. After an injury took him down in the third quarter, here is what the ensuing drives for the Bills led to: field goal, touchdown, touchdown. The offensive line and the recently waived Kaare Vedvik deserve some blame, but Mosley’s injury may have been the catalyst for the tough loss.
Philadelphia Eagles 32, Washington Redskins 27
Philadelphia: It only looks right to see DeSean Jackson back in an Eagles uniform. It also looks right to see him burn through coverage like the Roadrunner from Looney Tunes. Two 50+ yard touchdowns and over 150 yards total on the day. Those reports about Jackson and Carson Wentz working well together looked to be true. If that’s the case, the rest of the league may be dealing with a serious problem.
Washington: It was only for a week, but the Case Keenum who led the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game two years ago took the field. He actually enjoyed a better stat line than the more-ballyhooed Wentz. It wasn’t enough to give Washington the victory, but that can be blamed of a defensive collapse. Jonathan Allen’s injury, Derrius Guice’s ineffectiveness, and Trent Williams’s defection did not help matters. At least it can be worse?
Los Angeles Rams 30, Carolina Panthers 27
Los Angeles Rams: For the Rams, this win was far from the tone-setter they wanted to have. Jared Goff, coming fresh off of his new contract extension, looked rusty and struggled before a late touchdown. Todd Gurley looked fine, but it’s clear that Sean McVay was concerned, resorting to Malcolm Brown spelling the All-Pro running back for two touchdowns. Aaron Donald had a slow start to his season, and the rest of the defense was not exactly stellar either. With a game against a Saints team hungry for revenge on the docket for next week, these kinks will have to be ironed out quickly.
Carolina: Christian McCaffrey is looking like Norv Turner’s new version of LaDainian Tomlinson more by the day. The all-purpose running back was easily one of the best players on Sunday, amassing a total of 209 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. Where the problem lies is with Cam Newton, not necessarily with his playing ability or even his fashion sense, but the toll he’s taking on his body. Taking three sacks is not a good thing for a quarterback who’s shoulder may still not be 100 percent. Just saying.
Kansas City Chiefs 40, Jacksonville Jaguars 26
Kansas City: Jacksonville was the only team that held Mahomes without a touchdown pass last season. This time, it took Mahomes all of 98 seconds to rectify that. The Duval heat never seemed to bother the reigning MVP, as he matched his yardage total from last year’s matchup in just the first half. The loss of Tyreek Hill will sting a bit, but it’s no big deal. Sammy Watkins caught all three of Mahomes’s touchdown passes. Travis Kelce was solid as usual. LeSean McCoy looked like he stepped through a time machine. If Mahomes is looking to repeat as MVP, he made a strong case with this first game.
Jacksonville: There are a few things that can be pointed out, but one in particular stands out. After Nick Foles went down with a broken clavicle, Jaguars fans could be forgiven for abandoning all hope. Sixth-round pick Gardner Minshew was coming in and…actually looked good. It wasn’t enough to beat the Chiefs, but Minshew had a nice game for someone drafted in Day 3. 275 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception is not a stat line to sneeze at. Trading for Josh Dobbs earlier this week did make sense, but Minshew should be given another chance to make sure this was not a lucky break. The glass case is still covering the panic button…for now.
Los Angeles Chargers 30, Indianapolis Colts 27 (OT)
Los Angeles Chargers: Melvin Gordon’s holdout looked like a mistake on paper, and the paper has apparently transcended into reality. Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson did fine work, but Ekeler in particular looked every bit like a workhorse. He posted 154 total yards and three touchdowns, including the overtime winner. What looked like a concern in the offseason looked like nothing of the sort. Gordon has claimed he will be back with the Chargers sometime in November. If he wants to prove he’s worth as much money as he wants, he may want to come back a bit earlier.
Indianapolis: In all fairness, the Colts should have won this game. Jacoby Brissett looked capable of holding down the starting role, T.Y. Hilton looked like the underappreciated star he is, Marlon Mack had a career day on the ground, and names like Malik Hooker and Kemoko Turay look like new defensive stars. So who takes the blame for this loss? The fingers point at an unexpected source: Adam Vinatieri. The usually reliable elder statesman had arguably his worst outing, missing two field goals and an extra point. When a CFL import pulling double duty has a better day, there is a problem. Next week’s game may be critical for Vinatieri if he wants to stick, and that is a weird thing to type out.
Seattle Seahawks 21, Cincinnati Bengals 20
Seattle: It was a game to forget for the Seattle offense, who was bailed out by a defense that had its own share of issues. Russell Wilson’s two touchdowns saved his game, and Chris Carson was inconsistent, coming through in clutch situations but struggling elsewhere. D.K. Metcalf showed his big play ability early, so that’s at least a nice sign. Other than that, there was little to speak of. A game that should have been an easy win at home turned into a nail-biter. Not a performance to be proud of, if I’m being honest.
Cincinnati: The Bengals once again pull the Charlie Brown impression of the hard-luck loser. They beat Seattle’s offensive output by almost 200 yards and placed above the Seahawks in almost every metric…except the one total that counts. Career days from Andy Dalton and John Ross were cast asunder, and new coach Zac Taylor looked alright in defeat. Three points in the second half will not cut it, though. “It’s the Hard Knock Life” is blaring loud in Paul Brown Stadium once again.
Dallas Cowboys 35, New York Giants 17
Dallas: All may be right in Jerry World for now, but the ringmaster may be sweating due to not paying one of his star attractions. It’s still a mystery about how much money Dak Prescott wants, but he got one step closer to getting his desired price. Throwing four touchdowns to different targets and landing 100 yard days for Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup meant Ezekiel Elliott got to take it easy. As with the Ravens, the Cowboys did face a weak defense, but it was nice to see some explosiveness from an offense that had a bit of intrigue. Expect a dogfight with Philadelphia for the NFC East crown.
New York Giants: Pat Shurmur, what are you doing? Saquon Barkley is the engine of the Giants’ offense, and eleven carries is all he gets? Eli Manning should not be throwing 44 passes in this day and age, even in a blowout. Under-utilization is a crime a few teams know all too well, but to do it to a team’s best player is laughable. The hot seat just cranked up a few degrees for that. Wake me up when Daniel Jones steps in.
Detroit Lions 27, Arizona Cardinals 27(OT)
Detroit: Well, this is awkward. Just when the Lions thought they had it made, and then they took their foot off the gas. This is when Matt Patricia learned a valuable lesson: playing not to lose usually means you lose. The hopes and dreams of Lions fans ended up dying as the Cardinals put up 18 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Unlike the Chargers, however, the Lions were unable to get themselves out and settled for the tie. It feels like a loss for Detroit, which needed a win here to get some momentum going in order to be competitive. At least T.J. Hockenson looked legitimate?
Arizona: Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury went from looking like duds on opening week to stars. Murray salvaged a tough debut with an incredible fourth quarter, throwing two touchdowns to David Johnson and the ageless wonder Larry Fitzgerald. There was a chance to end the game in overtime by intercepting a pass from Matthew Stafford, but the defender couldn’t hold on to the ball. That was it, but for the Cardinals, they’ll take what they can get. There’s the metaphor about a tie and kissing your sister, but it was probably a less awkward deal this time around. Accidental kiss on a high school crush, maybe?
San Francisco 49ers 31, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17
San Francisco: It had to be a little concerning for Niners fans to watch Jimmy Garoppolo’s up-and-down performance. Jimmy G let go of a pick-six that gave Tampa the lead before helping to get it back with a touchdown. He has the defense to thank for the victory, as the D paved the way with three sacks, four turnovers, and two pick-sixes. For context, the 49ers now have half of their turnover output and exceeded their interception total from last year in just one game. Sounds like a confidence booster.
Tampa Bay: Could the Bucs be looking at the QBs for next year’s draft? Jameis Winston, someone who was touted to be a nice fit for Bruce Arians’s offense, proceeded to lay an egg with three interceptions. Two of them went for pick-sixes to keep Tampa out of reach. It’s one thing to not help in a victory effort, but costing your team a game is worrying at this stage of the game. This is Winston’s last shot to prove himself as a franchise quarterback, and this game did not help his case.
New England Patriots 33, Pittsburgh Steelers 3
New England: That sound you heard Sunday night was the collective gulp of every NFL fan outside of Boston. The Patriots looked close to unstoppable against Pittsburgh in every aspect of play. Tom Brady seems to have Father Time held up, the offense is filled with playmakers, Dante Scarnecchia is still the best offensive line coach in the league, and the defense didn’t even allow much in garbage time. Even if Antonio Brown doesn’t play a game with New England, this team is already looking like it’s on the warpath. Just give Tom Brady a gauntlet for his rings already.
Pittsburgh: There’s no sugarcoating this one. Antonio Brown’s replacement has yet to be found, and Donte Moncrief seems to be the one name I’m willing to drop from the discussion. James Conner struggled to get anything going out of the backfield. JuJu Smith-Schuster struggled before getting a bit of garbage time production. The Steelers have once again become the personal whipping boy of a Patriots team that has dominated this matchup in the recent past.
New Orleans Saints 30, Houston Texans 28
New Orleans: The Saints found themselves down at the half by eleven after a slow start, including an officiating gaffe that left the Saints with little time to work with in their final drive. If the Saints had lost this game, the referees would probably be run out of town and it would be yet another game breaker for a team that has had its fair share of those recently. Thankfully, it never had to come to that. Drew Brees came alive in the second half, throwing two touchdown passes and using his surgical precision to get the Saints in field goal range with their final drive of the game. This time, Wil Lutz did not miss. Such a slow start will be punished by the Rams, who would love to repeat last year’s NFC Championship Game result, except in a lot more convincing fashion.
Houston: Win, lose, or draw, Deshaun Watson’s performance in Houston’s final drive of the game was a star-making moment. Down six with 50 seconds to go and no timeouts remaining, Watson needed a miracle to put the Texans back on top. It took him all of two long passes to DeAndre Hopkins and Kenny Stills to do it. The PAT was aided by a roughing the kicker penalty, but Watson did more than enough to help his team win. Unfortunately, he was not helped by an offensive line that still looked leaky and J.J. Watt not showing up on the stat sheet for the first time in his career. The Texans are still the used car salesman of the league, but Monday’s pitch was a bit more convincing.
Oakland Raiders 24, Denver Broncos 16
Oakland: This has to feel like a wave of relief for the Raiders. After months of making the headlines for their soap opera-esque offseason, the team finally got to be noticed for their football in the final home opener in Oakland. Derek Carr looked nice. Tyrell Williams and Darren Waller both had solid games. Josh Jacobs became the first running back since LaDainian Tomlinson to notch 100 yards and two touchdowns in his debut. The offensive line held Denver’s vaunted pass rush in check. The defense came through in multiple situations, getting three sacks and holding the Broncos out of the end zone until garbage time. It was unexpected, but the Raiders needed something after the whole Antonio Brown saga.
Denver: Vic Fangio and Joe Flacco’s debuts in Denver were both underwhelming. Fangio’s defense did nothing against a Raiders team that just lost its best player and was projected to do next to nothing. Flacco looked like the same quarterback that lost his starting spot to Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. Von Miller and Bradley Chubb never got anything going. Phillip Lindsay was outproduced by Royce Freeman. Courtland Sutton and Emmanuel Sanders did alright, but only caught one garbage-time touchdown. It was all a matter of too little, too late for the Broncos, who suddenly have questions to answer. The cries for Drew Lock just got a bit louder.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, we made it. Several months without football finally come to an end tomorrow with the Bears and the Packers on Thursday Night Football. The 2019 NFL season is 24 hours away from officially being underway.
Of course, the offseason and preseason has provided plenty of drama. Key players getting injured or retiring, positional battles being fought all across the league, and debates about who will hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February. Soon, the season will show who will be vindicated, and who will be disappointed.
In this segment, every team from every division will be ranked with a small description of how their season should go. Then it becomes a matter of who will go through the playoffs to the Super Bowl. Consider this the receipt for my predictions. Feel free to laugh if/when these go horribly awry.
AFC East
New England Patriots (predicted record: 14-2): Love them or hate them, no one can bet against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. This statement will not change until further notice.
Buffalo Bills (8-8): One of the more underrated teams in the league, to be honest. They have the defense to be competitive, but all eyes will be on Josh Allen and his development.
New York Jets (6-10): The Jets made a lot of noise in the offseason, signing guys like Le’Veon Bell and C.J. Mosley. That said, that does not overshadow Adam Gase being a not-so-inspiring coaching hire, Bell’s potential rust, the lack of a true number 1 receiver, and the offensive line and defense being works in progress. Better luck next time.
Miami Dolphins (3-13): The Laremy Tunsil trade basically confirmed the Dolphins plan on tanking the season. The real intrigue will be who is traded next and who they draft in April. Decisions, decisions.
AFC North
Cleveland Browns (11-5): A revamped offense led by a cavalcade of young talent to pair with an overall solid defense. The Browns are selling themselves as a competitor, and it is easy to buy in.
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6): Will losing the off-field antics of Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown be equal to losing their on-field production? On the flip side, here’s to hoping Devin Bush can be the field-stretching linebacker the Steelers have lacked since Ryan Shazier.
Baltimore Ravens (9-7): Losing C.J. Mosley, Eric Weddle, and Terrell Suggs will hurt, but the defense is still stout and looking for young stars to break out. The plan on offense is obviously to have Lamar Jackson pass more, but this is still a run-first scheme. If the offense stays as dynamic as when Lamar first started, there is a chance to get back in the postseason.
Cincinnati Bengals (3-13): The wheels had to fall off this dilapidated bus at some point. With the Bengals finally ready to embrace a much-needed culture change, this seems to be the year that it finally happens.
AFC South
Indianapolis Colts (9-7): This will probably be the boldest prediction on this. Sure, losing a franchise quarterback like Andrew Luck hurts, but the team amassed by GM Chris Ballard should embrace the “sum is better than its parts” philosophy. Don’t be shocked if somehow the Colts eke into the playoffs.
Houston Texans (7-9): The Texans opened the Columbus Blue Jackets’ playbook of desperation, trading Jadeveon Clowney for scraps while massively overpaying for Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills. This team is still Watson, Hopkins, Watt, and few others. The used car salesman of the NFL is hard at work.
Tennessee Titans (6-10): A good defense will probably be wasted under a tepid offense. Marcus Mariota is on his last chance, the receiving game isn’t exactly a strength, and a declining offensive line will be without its top player for a little while. Yikes.
Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10): The Super Bowl window closed pretty tight last year. Nick Foles’s track record outside of Philadelphia isn’t pretty, the offense is a work in progress, and the addition of Josh Allen has been balanced out by the disgruntlement of Yannick Ngakoue and the season-long departure of Telvin Smith. These guys just can’t have nice things…
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs (12-4): Once again, wunderkind Patrick Mahomes and the offense will be tasked with carrying this team to the promised land. The Chiefs are an okay defense away from being a serious Super Bowl contender. Will Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu help lead them there?
Los Angeles Chargers (10-6): The most cursed team in the NFL besides the Browns has been struck by the football gods once more, with Derwin James and Russell Okung likely going to miss time and Melvin Gordon likely playing his last down as a Charger. That said, the team is still deep enough to go on a decent run, and the promising play of rookies like Jerry Tillery and Nasir Adderley should help ease the pain.
Denver Broncos (6-10): See the Titans. Expect Drew Lock to finally take over at the end of the season to see where he’s at. John Elway’s job could depend on Lock’s development.
Oakland Raiders (5-11): With the drama-laden offseason finally done, the Raiders can focus on football. With the stacked divison, however, the Raiders’ final season in Oakland looks to be forgettable at best. Who knows if Derek Carr will be joining the team in Vegas?
Playoff Seeding: 1. New England Patriots 2. Kansas City Chiefs 3. Cleveland Browns 4. Indianapolis Colts 5. Pittsburgh Steelers 6. Los Angeles Chargers
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles (11-5): The Eagles’ season is on the shoulders of Carson Wentz. If he plays like the MVP candidate in 2017, they are a dark horse for the Super Bowl. If he seems to have lost a step or gets injured again, it could be a disappointing year. No team may be as volatile.
Dallas Cowboys (10-6): Well, at least the Zeke situation is all over and dealt with. Now it’s a matter of getting to Dak and Amari, but who knows how much money they will command? At least the outlook for this season is alright, and it may be enough to have Jason Garrett stick around for another year. Praise be upon the immortal clap.
Washington Redskins (5-11): Trent Williams’s holdout has killed any optimism about this team. Case Keenum will be thrown to the wolves until Dwayne Haskins comes in after the team is eliminated from playoff contention. Seems to be a way of life around there.
New York Giants (4-12): At least Daniel Jones is starting to gain the trust of Giants fans. It’s a far cry from the reactions when he was first drafted. He’s probably in the same boat as Haskins and Lock are, but at least Jones will have Saquon Barkley to hand the ball off to. Small consolation.
NFC North
Chicago Bears (12-4): If there was a present-day team that would justify the mantra “defense wins championships,” this is it. Mitch Trubisky should develop further and David Montgomery has the look of a solid running back at this level, but the star of the show in the Windy City will be Khalil Mack and the new Monsters of the Midway.
Green Bay Packers (12-4): So this ranking might be a bit generous, but Aaron Rodgers needs to be given at least some semblance of faith. The defense looks revamped after a surprising offseason splurge, Aaron Jones will be given a full season as the workhorse back, and the young receivers behind Davante Adams now have a full season under their belts. All we need is an anecdote from AR-12 telling fans to be confident in the team and the ritual will be complete.
Minnesota Vikings (9-7): No one will be fooled by the Vikings as Super Bowl contenders this time around, but there are still things to build off of. If the defense returns to form, depth players emerge at the skill positions, and the offensive line proves it can stop something, they could steal a playoff spot.
Detroit Lions (4-12): Trying to emulate the Patriots is not a very good idea. No one is being fooled. This is the omega of a cutthroat division, usually a sign of getting a high draft pick. Matt Stafford may be playing for his job security.
NFC South
New Orleans Saints (12-4): After two straight heartbreaking playoff losses, the Saints need to make good on the championship window. Father Time can take down Drew Brees at any moment, and the defense can be improved upon. At least Michael Thomas got his well-deserved extension, so kudos to them for getting the important details out of the way.
Atlanta Falcons (9-7): It’s easy to forget that the Falcons were the walking infirmary of last season. With its defensive playmakers healthy at last, a return to form should be expected. The only problem is the NFC may be too loaded for a spot in the playoffs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-10): Jameis Winston is on his last shot. If he can’t gel in a Bruce Arians offense, he probably isn’t going to develop into an NFL starter. Unfortunately, the running game, offensive line, and defense won’t exactly do him many favors.
Carolina Panthers (6-10): Cam Newton’s shoulder is key to how the Panthers will do. If the arm strength isn’t coming back, there may be serious issues for the team to address. This is the only team to expect to give a call to Colin Kaepernick. Just thinking out loud on that one.
AFC West
Los Angeles Rams (12-4): Jared Goff’s extension should keep the window open for quite a while. Aaron Donald’s extension will also help matters. The only real question is whether Todd Gurley will ever be one hundred percent again. They didn’t draft a running back in the third round for no reason.
Seattle Seahawks (9-7): With Russell Wilson in tow for the foreseeable future, the Seahawks are now working to re-establish themselves in the league’s upper echelon. Grabbing Jadeveon Clowney and extending Bobby Wagner should help. Now, how to recreate the Legion of Boom?
San Francisco 49ers (7-9): Early season reports of Jimmy Garoppolo struggling and John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan not being on the same page were concerning, but it seems those have started to lose steam. Here is hoping the offense only loses Jerick McKinnon and the defensive line can hide a back seven with some concerns.
Arizona Cardinals (3-13): Another year of Larry Fitzgerald being wasted saddens everyone. The Cardinals are now trying to find their identity once again, and are hoping the long-term recruitment of Kyler Murray by Kliff Kingsbury helps them find it. The top pick is a real possibility once again.
Playoff seeding: 1. Los Angeles Rams 2. Chicago Bears 3. New Orleans Saints 4. Philadelphia Eagles 5. Green Bay Packers 6. Dallas Cowboys
On August 21, 2019, the XFL got one step closer to legitimacy as a professional football league. Its eight teams now all have names, and in a couple months, the league will hold its inaugural draft to fill the rosters. All of this work is the foundation leading up to next February, when the league plans to play its first-ever regular season games.
There is a natural rush of excitement that comes with this news. Once again, there is an alternative to the NFL juggernaut. More eyes are on the league. Further information will allow fans to piece together what this new vision for the XFL is. However, there is one inescapable question that needs to be asked: can the XFL survive?
The story of the XFL is well-documented at this point. The first rendition of the league went under after one season due to an over-reliance on sports entertainment aspects (WWE chairman Vince McMahon spearheaded the league, so that probably should have been expected,) poor TV ratings, and breakdowns in broadcast negotiations. There were a few players to come out of the league such as Tommy Maddox, Steve Gleason, and Rod “He Hate Me” Smart, but for the majority of the players, this was their last run with professional football. The XFL is not the only secondary football league to disband, however, as the United Football League and Alliance of American Football ended up joining them on the path of the dodo bird.
With no league outside of the NFL being able to stick, what should make any reasonable person believe the second coming of the XFL is any different? There is a clear divide between the NFL and college football, so a developmental system existing between the two sounds like a good idea. The MLB has a whole minor league system, the NBA has the G-League, and the NHL has the AHL, ECHL, and leagues all across the world. A “minor league” for the NFL makes sense as another gateway for prospective players, but how can it work?
McMahon and XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck think they have a solution. For one, this XFL is straying away from its flashy and loud predecessor, eschewing the professional wrestling-style bells and whistles for a simpler, faster-paced game. Ideas such as a shortened play clock, modifications to play calling, and a shootout overtime format should help in that regard. Another change is that the XFL is electing to take its time in crafting its vision, unlike the AAF. The AAF, fearing that competition would put it behind the eight ball early, announced it would start playing games just one year after its inception. The idea backfired dramatically, and the AAF could not get through one season before closing down due to serious financial issues. The XFL is taking a different approach, waiting a couple years and getting the beginning logistics all sorted out before going forward.
That kind of long-term thinking is reflected in the XFL’s draft pool. There will be a seperate pool of eight quarterbacks eligible for selection by the teams, the first of which has been revealed to be former NFL backup Landry Jones. Outside of that, however, there is a pool of almost 900 eligible players waiting to be drafted. Some names that leap off the page include former NFL players Trent Richardson, Hakeem Nicks, Robert Meachem, Dexter McCluster, and Fred Davis. There is also a possibility that the XFL looks at being a viable option for college players, as well, but nothing has been established on that front as of this writing. If it does come through, however, the XFL’s talent pool will be deeper and the league can establish itself as a direct feeder to the NFL, strengthening its reputation and giving it more attention.
There is no silver bullet strategy for the XFL to follow, and there’s no guarantee this rendition of the league is going to be any more successful than the first go-around. With that said, it’s reassuring that the league is choosing not to rush things and embracing a more methodical approach. McMahon seems to be willing to exercise much more patience with the XFL than other leagues have, a point of view that could potentially pay huge dividends later.
Tate Martell working out for the Miami Hurricanes (image: AP)
This is not how Tate Martell envisioned his college football career going at all.
It’s been quite the eventful career at this point for the once highly-touted quarterback prospect. After ranking as the fifth best quarterback in his graduation class according to 247Sports (and behind the likes of Tua Tagovailoa and Jake Fromm,) as well as reneging on prior commitments to Washington and Texas A&M, Martell decided to attend Ohio State to play under then-coach Urban Meyer. After redshirting his freshman year and serving as Dwayne Haskins’s backup, it appeared that he would get his chance.
Then Justin Fields proceeded to happen. Another highly-touted QB prospect, Fields would not have an easy road to opportunity at Georgia, so he decided to transfer. And of course, he selected Ohio State, putting Martell’s starting position in jeopardy before he even had a chance to get a foothold on the job.
Martell, knowing he would not get his chance as a Buckeye, entered the transfer portal in January, marking the third time he would switch schools. This time, he elected to join the University of Miami, a school that suffered a disappointing 2018 season and undergoing an abrupt coaching change. The opportunity was there for Martell to seize. The QB room in Miami included promising but underachieving redshirt sophomore N’Kosi Perry and an inexperienced redshirt freshman in Jarren Williams. A strong training camp would give Martell the chance he coveted.
It would not be. On August 12, 2019, the University of Miami announced that Williams would start in the season opener against Florida. Suddenly, Martell found himself competing for the backup role, a demotion he did not take well. The following day, Martell did not show up to practice, as rumors of yet another transfer began to swarm.
This leads us to the question asked: where does Martell go from here? Does he stick it out in Miami and hope for a miracle scenario that leads to him getting the nod at some point? Switch positions a la Braxton Miller or Denard Robinson? Or does he cut his losses and enter the transfer portal once again? It will be difficult regardless of what he chooses, but for the sake of speculation, there are a couple of ideas that make some sense.
The slot receiver route is open, and success can be found down that path (I’m looking directly at you, Julian Edelman.) However, if he does want to stick the QB route and wants a clear path to start, it would be easier to kick the ego to the curb and aim for a Group of Five school. It just so happens that there’s a perfect fit down the rabbit hole. Imagine if Martell decides to transfer…to UNLV.
Martell played his high school football in Las Vegas at Bishop Gorman. Guess who was head coach of Gorman at the time? Tony Sanchez, who just so happens to be UNLV’s current head coach. Of course, Sanchez is in the position for now. UNLV has not broken out yet, and with the desires of being a better-looking program amplified by moving to the Raiders’ new stadium next year, Sanchez needs to clinch a bowl berth to have a prayer at sticking around. If he does stay, he could use a home run swing, and Martell would be a perfect candidate in that department.
The current starting QB at UNLV, Armani Rogers, has struggled to stay healthy, an unfortunate outcome considering that he has flashed Lamar Jackson-esque ability on the field. With that in mind, Martell slides into a position where he has familiarity with the system and a good shot at starting games. As far as salvaging a career goes, Martell can do a lot worse.
In the end, Martell knows what’s best for himself and his career, so maybe these ideas are just speculating for the sake of it. However, he also knows that the clock is ticking on his chances of future success. Whatever he decides to do, he needs to be one hundred percent sure it’s the right decision.
The Sports Nerd Speaks 