An early look at 10 things to watch on the road to Super Bowl LI in Houston.
Cashing in
Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller is the brightest star with a contract set to expire March 9. But there’s no way Denver lets him hit the market, even if the sides can’t work out a long-term deal that likely would make Miller the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player. The franchise tag and new deals usually thin the “A” tier of potential free agents, and this year figures to be no different. Other notable names to watch include Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman, New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford, Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery, New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders are among the teams with a ton of spending power.
Last stand?
The Broncos are likely to move on from soon to be 40-year-old quarterback Peyton Manning, even if he wants to return for a 19th NFL season. And Manning isn’t the only big name who could be headed for retirement. Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson and Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch are among those contemplating whether to play in 2016.
Cracking down
Commissioner Roger Goodell has publicly endorsed a rule change that would yield an ejection for any player who commits two personal fouls in a game. But the competition committee and the NFL Players Association will have a lot of questions about how that’d work. Would all personal fouls (including facemasks and horse collar tackles) be subject to the rule? Would fouls be reviewable? Would officials be as willing to flag a player who already has one strike? A vote could come as soon as the league meetings next month. Side note: Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict’s appeal of his three-game suspension for a string of illegal hits is pending.
Back in court
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady successfully fought his four-game Deflategate suspension in federal court. But the NFL has appealed that decision, and the U.S. Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in the case March 3. Oddly, Goodell deflected a question Friday about whether Brady’s suspension would be reinstated should the league win. If the point is to protect the league’s collectively bargained power to discipline, as Goodell says, it’s hard to see how letting Brady off the hook would make any sense.
Out in L.A.
How will Los Angeles receive the NFL’s return after a two-decade absence? The Rams’ opulent new stadium in nearby Inglewood won’t be ready until 2019, meaning fans will be headed to a temporary venue, most likely the L.A. Coliseum, although a deal has not been finalized. There’s also more drama ahead on the fate of the San Diego Chargers, who have announced they’ll play at least one more season in Qualcomm Stadium, and the Oakland Raiders, leaving those teams in limbo for now.
Where’s Johnny?
The Cleveland Browns have made clear Johnny Manziel’s days in Cleveland are numbered. But football should be the least of his concerns at a time he’s under investigation for a potential domestic violence incident and his family is pleading through the media for help getting him back into rehab. Still just 23 years old, Manziel is a unique talent, but he needs to get his life in order before he gets back on the field.
Seats will heat
The most obvious coach under pressure is the Jaguars’ Gus Bradley, who is 12-36 in three seasons and got a one-year contract extension after last season. But there are others who figure to come under fire if things don’t start well — the Buffalo Bills' Rex Ryan, San Diego’s Mike McCoy, Detroit’s Jim Caldwell and Los Angeles’ Jeff Fisher among them.
New Chip on the block
Of the seven new head coaches, nobody arrives with more intrigue than Chip Kelly, who was fired by the Eagles before last season ended but found a soft landing in San Francisco. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick seems like a perfect fit for Kelly’s up-tempo offense, but he was benched last season, and Kelly has yet to publicly endorse him. An important deadline looms April 1, when Kaepernick’s $11.9 million million base salary for 2016 would become fully guaranteed. The other new head coaches also have offensive backgrounds: Adam Gase (Miami Dolphins), Hue Jackson (Browns), Mike Mularkey (Tennessee Titans), Doug Pederson (Eagles), Ben McAdoo (Giants) and Dirk Koetter (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
Road to recovery
There’s no shortage of early candidates for comeback player of the year honors, given the number of big names who spent most or all of 2015 on the sideline with injuries. That list includes Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell, Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles, Green Bay Packers receiver Jordy Nelson, Panthers receiver Kelvin Benjamin and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs. A hard road back faces Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham, who tore a patellar tendon in late November.
New digs
The Minnesota Vikings open their NFC North title defense in the new U.S. Bank Stadium: a transparent-roofed football cathedral in downtown Minneapolis built at a cost of more than $1 billion. It’ll be unlike anything the league has seen before.
