As the summer sun sets and preseason buzz begins to take over, NFL training camps are now in full swing, marking the start of another promising football season. Among the first to get a jumpstart on preparations were the Houston Texans, who began their camp on a Wednesday.
Rookie Reports and Big Contracts
With the offseason drawing to a close, most rookies across various teams are set to report this week, eager to make their mark in the league. For the Philadelphia Eagles, quarterback Jalen Hurts is once again in the spotlight. A year after landing a then-record $255 million deal, Hurts' performance remains a key factor in the team's aspirations. Cody Benjamin notes, "One year after landing a then-record $255 million deal, and two years after going toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl, Hurts isn't going anywhere."
Hurts' budding career has already seen significant milestones and shifts. His latest contribution to the Eagles was facilitating the arrival of Kellen Moore as the new offensive coordinator. With this new system in place, the trajectory of Hurts' career could very well determine the fate of head coach Nick Sirianni. As Benjamin points out, "That starts with Hurts, whose more mercurial follow-up to 2022's breakout helped facilitate Kellen Moore's arrival as the new offensive coordinator. Hurts' trajectory in the new system could determine the fate of coach Nick Sirianni as well."
Passions Beyond the Field
While players like Hurts focus on their on-field responsibilities, others, like Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Devin White, indulge in passions beyond football. White, who loves horse riding, honed this skill growing up in rural Louisiana. Josh Edwards sheds light on this unique hobby, stating, "Growing up in rural Louisiana, White learned to ride horses at an early age and has had a passion for it ever since."
His dedication to this pastime is evident as White owns several horses and maintains a property to house them. Equestrian offers various disciplines, and White's experience is a testament to his diverse talents.
Olympians and Multi-Sport Athletes
Multi-sport athletes are a rarity, but Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Gable Steveson is redefining that notion. A two-time national champion wrestler at Minnesota, Steveson also clinched a gold medal in the 125kg weight class at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. Edwards elaborates, "Steveson is the only gold medalist on this list. He won the medal in the 125kg weight class as part of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics... Steveson was a two-time national champion wrestler at Minnesota and is now using his leverage exposure to deconstruct blocks in the NFL."
Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers' wide receiver Adam Thielen showcases his prowess on both the gridiron and the golf course. Thielen's talent in pro-am golf tournaments is well-documented, and he recently finished seventh at the American Century Championship. According to Edwards, Thielen's handicap is a remarkable 0.6, indicating his exceptional golfing capabilities. "It is often the quarterbacks that find the most success playing golf, but Thielen is well-documented as being a great golfer," Edwards commented.
Strategic Team Moves and Challenges
Elsewhere in the NFL, strategic roster changes and challenges are surfacing as teams fine-tune their lineups. Tom Brady's arrival in Tampa Bay exemplified how one player's presence can attract multiple free agents, ultimately contributing to the Buccaneers' Super Bowl LV victory. Curiously, every point scored by the Buccaneers in that Super Bowl came from players who were not on the team the prior year.
For the Baltimore Ravens, the departure of key players like Morgan Moses, Kevin Zeitler, and John Simpson presents a complex scenario. Jared Dubin notes the team's historical ingenuity but recognizes the immediate challenges: "The Ravens seemingly always figure things out up front; but with Morgan Moses, Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson leaving, and Ronnie Stanley both experiencing lingering effects of his knee issues and not playing at as high a level as he once did, there are a lot of balls up in the air."
The Cincinnati Bengals are also navigating significant transitions. Moving on from running back Joe Mixon, the team is pinning its hopes on Zack Moss. Jared Dubin provides context on the uncertainty this change brings, "The Bengals moved on from Joe Mixon and are looking to replace him with Zack Moss... There's a lot of uncertainty there." Similarly, the Cleveland Browns face ongoing questions about quarterback Deshaun Watson's performance. "Deshaun Watson hasn't been good since 2020. It is wholly unreasonable to count on him being good this year," Dubin states, highlighting the Browns' precarious situation.
Moreover, the Pittsburgh Steelers face their own set of challenges without Diontae Johnson to soak up targets and the need for either a Russell Wilson bounce-back or significant improvement from Justin Fields. As the landscape of the NFL continues to shift, these pressing issues and tactical decisions will undoubtedly shape the upcoming season.
UFL Draft Insights
Beyond the NFL, the United Football League (UFL) has been making waves with its 2024 UFL College Draft, held on a Wednesday. Six quarterbacks were selected, with Jason Bean being the No. 1 overall pick, followed by John Rhys Plumlee at No. 3. Notably, two Colts quarterbacks, Jason Bean, and Kedon Slovis, found new homes through the UFL draft, showcasing the league's efforts in grooming future talent.
As training camps continue and the season approaches, these developments set the stage for an exciting year in football. From record-breaking contracts to multi-sport accomplishments and strategic roster moves, the dynamics of the game are ever-evolving, promising fans a thrilling season ahead.