Intriguing Training Camp Stories
Added on Jul 02, 2012 by Scott in
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The first NFL training camp opens in 20 days. For those who aren’t adept at math, that’s less than one month away. In short, pro football will be back before we know it and that’s a good thing. Unlike last summer, there are no labor disputes or legal wranglings to ponder heading into late July. Instead it’s all about on the field business as 32 teams begin the process of building a championship caliber roster. Here are a few storylines to follow.
The Tebow Circus – Regardless of whether or not Tebow is the “starter” heading into camp means very little, because the voracious national media will converge on Florham Park, New Jersey to extract every ounce of drama, be it real or manufactured, they can find in the saga that is Quarterback Jesus. The Jets have other pressing problems, like linebacker and wide receiver, but none of those will escape the enormous shadow cast by Tebowmania.
The Lions Roar – After last year’s surprising playoff appearance, Detroit must now maintain a winning environment. A string of offseason arrests will make this challenge even more daunting as the team will be bombarded with non-football questions that could ignite some short fuses. Head coach Jim Schwartz has a talented roster chock-full of potential at his disposal, but young players have a tendency of buckling under pressure.
Desert Heat – Remember when Kevin Kolb was anointed the next great quarterback? Eagles and Cardinals fans sure do. Well, he has been anything but for the last three years, and with backup John Skelton leading the team to victories late in 2011, expect a duel in the desert this summer. Kolb has the inside track, mainly due to his fat contract, but this is his last chance to show he’s legit.
Peterson’s Progress – Adrian Peterson is a freakish athlete, but even he will struggle to be available Week 1. He is reportedly ahead of schedule in his rehab from ACL surgery, so don’t count him out. However, until he proves he can repeatedly run and cut at full speed without pain and swelling, he will be held back by the Vikings training staff. With the team in rebuilding mode, rushing him into the lineup before he’s healed would be unwise, to say the least.
Mile High Manning – Is Peyton Manning 100%? It’s the question everyone wants an answer to, especially John Elway and the Broncos brass, who jettisoned a certain fan favorite and invested heavily in a quarterback with serious medical concerns. If Manning’s neck and arm can withstand the rigors of a grueling NFL schedule, the AFC West and the rest of the conference better look out.
