As summer break comes to a close, NFL teams are kicking off their training camps, marking the unofficial start of the football season. The Houston Texans were among the first to begin their preparations, starting their camp on a Wednesday. With most rookies set to report this week, the familiar sounds of pads hitting and whistles blowing are a comforting signal that football is back.
Historic Contracts and Performances
A year ago, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts made headlines by securing a then-record $255 million deal. Hurts is no stranger to the spotlight, having gone toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl two years ago. Despite the immense pressure on the Eagles to capitalize on their all-world skill group, Hurts remains the even-keeled face of the franchise.
"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," noted Cody Benjamin. "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."
Devin White: Athlete and Equestrian
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Devin White's love for horse riding dates back to his early years in rural Louisiana. Now, White owns several horses and a property to house them, combining his two passions of football and equestrianism.
"Growing up in rural Louisiana, White learned to ride horses at an early age and has had a passion for it ever since," mentioned Josh Edwards. "There are multiple elements of equestrian, like dressage, cross country, jumping, etc. ... so White could focus on one discipline."
Gable Steveson's Transition to the NFL
Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Gable Steveson came into the NFL with an impressive resume, having won a gold medal in the 125kg weight class at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. Steveson was also a two-time national champion wrestler at Minnesota, a background that serves him well in the trenches of the NFL.
"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," said Josh Edwards. "Steveson was a two-time national champion wrestler at Minnesota and is now using his leverage exposure to deconstruct blocks in the NFL."
Adam Thielen's Golfing Ventures
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen isn't just known for his football prowess; he's also an accomplished golfer. Thielen has played in several pro-am golf tournaments and recently finished seventh at the American Century Championship, outshining notable players like Harrison Smith, Derek Carr, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, and Josh Allen.
"It is often the quarterbacks that find the most success playing golf, but Thielen is well-documented as being a great golfer," commented Edwards. "One report stated that his handicap is a 0.6."
Tom Brady's Impact on the Buccaneers
The arrival of Tom Brady in Tampa Bay was a turning point for the Buccaneers, attracting several other free agents to Florida. The impact was immediate and profound, as evidenced by every point scored by the Buccaneers in their Super Bowl LV victory coming from players who weren't on the team the year prior.
Still, not everyone had a positive experience with Brady. Former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens shared his own less-than-pleasant encounter: "Tom Brady ignored me. The year that AB went crazy ... they just needed somebody to fill some holes with AB leaving at the receiver position. I reached out to him through Randy [Moss] and some other people, just to come in and play third down and red zone situations. This dude ignored me. It just shows you the lack of respect there, but then when they get in front of you they want to act like they respect you."
Offseason Changes and Challenges
As training camps kick off, it's clear that the offseason hasn't resolved all issues for every team. Jared Dubin highlighted some areas where teams are still lacking: "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."
Dubin also pointed out concerns for other teams: "The Bengals moved on from Joe Mixon and are looking to replace him with Zack Moss... There's a lot of uncertainty there. Deshaun Watson hasn't been good since 2020. It is wholly unreasonable to count on him being good this year. Can the Browns keep winning if he keeps disappointing? And then the Steelers both no longer have Diontae Johnson to soak up targets, and are counting on either a Russell Wilson bounce-back or Justin Fields taking a significant step."
United Football League Draft
Meanwhile, the United Football League held its 2024 UFL College Draft on Wednesday, where a total of six quarterbacks were selected. Among them, notable picks included Jason Bean, who went No. 1 overall, and John Rhys Plumlee, who was selected at No. 3. Interestingly, two Colts quarterbacks, Jason Bean and Kedon Slovis, found new homes through the UFL draft.
The hustle and bustle of football never ceases, even in the so-called offseason. With training camps now underway, the NFL's next chapter is set to unfold, full of new stories, challenges, and opportunities.