It’s the best time of year! Football is back on your television every weekend for the foreseeable future. Last we saw the National Football League, Tom Brady raised the Lombardi trophy for the SIXTH time. At age 44, he has shown no sign of slowing down as he enters his second season with his new team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Covid is still dominating most aspects of our life, and the upcoming NFL season will likely be no different. With players coming out for and against the league’s Covid policies, separating the vaccinated and unvaccinated athletes, the drama will likely follow. This looks like it’s going to be one of the most entertaining seasons for the National Football League and here are five storylines you’re going to want to watch.
Covid-19
It’s inevitable that Covid-19 will cause some type of chaos this season in the National Football League. While teams like the Atlanta Falcons have achieved one hundred percent vaccination, other teams still have hesitant personnel. With Covid variants running rampant in the United States, it seems likely that someone will eventually test positive. We’ve already seen it happen with vaccinated players in preseason.
Unlike last season, it could cost the team with the positive tests. The NFL has already announced that masks and daily testing will be required for all non-vaccinated players. Non-vaccinated players will also be barred from bars, concerts, etc. If a player breaks Covid protocol rules, he could face a $50,000 fine for the first offense. If a vaccinated player comes into contact with a Covid-positive individual, a five-day isolation period will be required. This could mean that that vaccinated player might not miss a game depending on the day of the positive test. Coaches who are not vaccinated are not allowed to attend in-person workouts.
We’ve already seen the league enforce Covid policies as Bills wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie shared on social media.
Will Deshaun Watson Play This Season
No matter what happens this season, a dark cloud will likely hang over the Houston Texans. Even before the disturbing TWENTY-TWO lawsuits were filed against quarterback Deshaun Watson alleging sexual misconduct, things were not good in Houston. The relationship between the front office and the QB was already rocky. Watson was unhappy with many of the decisions made including trading away his best weapon DeAndre Hopkins before the start of the previous season.
However, it doesn’t even appear that Watson will see one snap this season, or ever again. It seems more unlikely that he will ever appear in a Houston jersey. During the preseason, Tyrod Taylor has received all of the first-team reps while Watson is the team’s fourth-string quarterback. The Miami Dolphins have emerged as a team willing to possibly take on the embattled QB. It won’t come cheap, however, the Texans are reportedly looking for at least three first-round draft picks.
The team also said goodbye to leader JJ Watt who was traded to the Arizona Cardinals. Houston only won four games last season and it would be considered a good season if they match that this season.
Can Tom Brady Do It Again
When you’re the best you’re always a storyline. Whether you want to cheer or hate on Tom Brady you care how he is doing especially after winning a Super Bowl in his first year at Tampa Bay. The oldest player in the league looked sharp as ever in the Bucs’ preseason finale against the Texans. He completed 11 of his 24 pass attempts including a touchdown pass to Chris Godwin.
Brady isn’t the only starter returning to the Bucs. Tampa Bay proudly brought back all twenty-two starters from last season. While that’s a great story, it doesn’t guarantee success. Tampa Bay will open the new season in a game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Happy Reunion in Green Bay?
Well, he’s back. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers made his dramatic entrance to Packers training camp and so far it appears everyone is getting along, for now. It seems like a very tense standoff between the reigning MVP who has been very open about being unhappy with his team and Green Bay who has no interest in trading their quarterback. However, everyone appears to be keeping their feelings to themselves in order to win. The Packers, who went to back-to-back NFC Championship games, are in win-now mode and can only do that with twelve under center.
There is still the question of what to do with Jordan Love. With Rodgers back in Green Bay, it appears Love will be carrying the clipboard all season. Love failed to impress in his first showing as a Green Bay Packer this preseason. If Rodgers had not come back, it’s unlikely the Packers would be regarded as a title contender. With Rodgers back, Green Bay is already the best team in their division and one of the best in the league.
Justin Fields- The Guy in Chicago
This isn’t an unusual situation, but it’s definitely going to be one to watch. We all know Justin Fields is going to play this season, barring an injury. However, it looks like head coach Matt Nagy will not reveal when that will happen. This is also not unusual but it is will invite a lot of press to ask Nagy the same question until Fields sees the field. He has committed to Andy Dalton starting week one with Fields starting the final preseason game.
Chicago fans are ready for Fields to take over at quarterback. After years of mediocre, at best, quarterbacks trying to lead the team, Chicago may have found their franchise quarterback. Fields impressed in his preseason debut against the Miami Dolphins. The rookie QB had a passing and rushing TD.
Nagy will be under massive scrutiny if Dalton doesn’t start the season strong and the Bears fall in the standings.
