Athlon Sports Preseason Sports Magazine's provide in-depth analysis of the upcoming seasons and events. Each preview includes great feature stories, team previews, depth charts, predictions, schedules and more.
Once upon a time, my favorite football player was Joe Montana. (Yes, I was something of a frontrunner who liked rooting for winners. Sue me.) Joe Cool epitomized grace under pressure. It was impossible to envision the scarlet and metallic gold under anyone else’s on-field leadership. But as we all do, Montana started to age, and there was a guy standing on the sideline who was younger, bigger and arguably more physically gifted. In what was in retrospect an inevitable development, Steve Young emerged as the franchise-quarterback-in-waiting as Montana battled injuries. Understandably, Montana bristled at any perceived changing of the guard, and when it became clear that the franchise’s affections lay elsewhere, he ultimately requested a trade. Fortunately for Young, he was able to emerge from Montana’s shadow and fashion…
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1 KEEPING THE BAND TOGETHER The Buccaneers won the Super Bowl for the first time since 2002, giving Tom Brady his seventh Super Bowl ring. And Brady and the Bucs aren’t done. Brady, who turns 44 in August, agreed to a one-year extension through 2022. He is back for more, and so are his teammates. The Bucs began the offseason with only 31 players under contract. Yet, despite the salary cap decrease, Tampa Bay was able to retain receiver Chris Godwin, tight end Rob Gron-kowski, defensive end Shaq Barrett, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, running back Leonard Fournette and kicker Ryan Succop, and offensive tackle Donovan Smith signed a long-term extension. For the first time since 1979, the Super Bowl champion is returning all 22 starters for a chance to repeat. No…
The differences in circumstances for players from one season to the next can impact their potential in drastic ways. At the end of the 2019 season, Tom Brady was a Patriots quarterback frustrated with his targets and facing an un-certain future. One year later, he’s got his seventh Super Bowl ring and his first with the Buccaneers, and his NFL future is eminently bright, though he’ll be 44 years old when the 2021 season begins. Jared Goff, on the other hand, was thought to be a rising young quarterback in a perfect situation with Sean McVay and the Rams. One year later, he’s on a Lions roster with precious little in terms of receiver talent, and his professional future is very much up in the air. It doesn’t take much…
1. AARON RODGERS, GREEN BAY PACKERS Rodgers put up the third NFL MVP campaign of his estimable career, a resounding response to anybody who thought he was close to done. Rodgers had the NFL’s highest TD percentage (9.1 percent) and lowest interception rate (1.0 percent). At 37, he might be playing his best football. But can Green Bay keep him? 2. TOM BRADY, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS It took about half a season for Brady to fully get with Bruce Arians’ “grip it and rip it” philosophy. But once everything locked in, Brady was reborn as a deep passer on his way to yet another Super Bowl MVP award. No quarterback in 2020 had more deep attempts (119), completions (45), yards (1,515) and touchdowns (15). 3. PATRICK MAHOMES, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS…
1. DERRICK HENRY, TENNESSEE TITANS In 2019, Henry ran for more yards after contact than any other NFL back gained in total. In 2020, he nearly did it again, gaining 1,525 yards after contact; only Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook gained more total rushing yards with 1,557. Last year, Henry also led the NFL in runs of 10 yards or more and 15 yards or more. If you want to argue that there’s a more complete runner in the NFL today, good luck. 2. NICK CHUBB, CLEVELAND BROWNS Last season, in committee with Kareem Hunt, Chubb gained 1,212 yards and scored 12 TDs on just 221 carries (including playoffs), despite missing four games with an MCL sprain. Among backs with at least 20 percent of their teams’ offensive snaps last season, Chubb…
