It's been over 18 weeks since NFL fans last saw a down of football. If that period was translated to a season, we'd have just watched the wild-card games and would be preparing for a few more days of football before a bye and the main event.
It's not too dissimilar to this week's mandatory mini-camps, where veterans from 23 teams will be obliged to practice for the first time all year. They'll get a six week break after Thursday before returning to play in the peak of off-season activities, training camp.
It might not mean much to fans but we're edging slowly back towards competition and meaningful headlines. The NFL world hasn't been completely dormant since Tom Brady hoisted his sixth Lombardi trophy however, and a few stories kept us from completely pulling our hair out.
In true NFL media fashion, we're going to rank the most interesting headlines that got us to this point.
10) Patriot's owner Robert Kraft involved in prostitution sting
The biggest non-football football story of the last few months involved Patriots owner Robert Kraft being found in a compromising position in a Florida day spa -- where human trafficking is alleged to have taken place. Kraft denies any misconduct and is unliekly to face severe charges as a first time offender. But having his name attached to the scandal is a hard look to shake, especially after past charitable efforts by the billionaire were brought into question. The investigation is on-going.
9) Gronk announces NFL retirement after nine seasons
New England Patriots homers and haters have one thing in common: an affection for tight end Rob Gronkowski. After being noncommittal about his future in late-2018, the dynamic 30-year-old looked likely to step away from the sport after winning his third Super Bowl ring in nine seasons. While the decision didn't come straight away - and agent Drew Rosenhaus maintained it wasn't final - Gronk announced in March that he wouldn't be returning to the field.
8) Bills general manager Brandon Beane gives his roster a shot of life
The Buffalo Bills went 6-10 last year, good enough for a Top 10 draft pick. The offense had few weapons for rookie quarterback Josh Allen -- who lead the team in passing and rushing yards. The offensive line was easily identified as a weakness as well as wide receiver. But without investing its entire future cap space, the team was able to improve those positions and added depth instead of just filling holes. It didn't grab headlines with superstar, flashy players, but instead opted for proven talent like receivers John Brown and Cole Beasley. Buffalo had an extremely strong off-season and looks destined to improve its 2018 record.
7) Le'Veon Bell enters free agency
Rumours that the Pittsburgh Steelers would franchise tag running back Le'Veon Bell after his 2018 absence - in an attempt to trade the superstar - never materialised and allowed fans of all teams to wonder whether their franchise could sign the generational talent. Reports "leaked" that the 27-year-old was drawing interest from the Dolphins, Colts and Raiders, but ultimately the New York Jets won the sweepstakes. The narrative was littered with intrigue before, during and after the destination was finalised, including Bell failing to get the money he desired, the All-Pro saying quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was a reason he left Pittsburgh, and new Jets head coach Adam Gase saying Bell was paid too much.
6) Saints head coach Sean Payton advocates for new pass interference rules
Something needing to be done and something *getting* done are two very different things. But after a botched call in the NFC Championship game it was clear pass interference rules needed to to be improved so both coaches and referees could be satisfied with calls. Aggrieved Saints coach Sean Payton championed replay usage on PI calls and now we have a system where coaches can challenge rulings on the field. How successful the new rules will be remains to be seen, but after clearing up what a catch is last year, the NFL is doing its best to leave less doubt in fans' minds after games.
5) Talk of new Tyreek Hill contract dismantled after domestic abuse claims against him
Details emerged on March 5 indicating the Kansas City Chiefs were working on a record-breaking contract for wide receiver Tyreek Hill. The same day, police were at the All-Pro's house looking into a possible child abuse incident. No charges were filed that day but a report from March 14 lingered and caused a lot of uncertainty over Hill's availability. While the police found no wrong-doing by Hill or his fiancee - and the case is now inactive - the NFL says it is conducting its own investigation and has the power to suspend the 25-year-old. Until the league comes to a conclusion, Hill will likely remain without a new deal.
4) Kyler Murray becomes Arizona's third starting quarterback in a year
Kliff Kingsbury found himself in the most unlikely situation in January: eight weeks after he had gushed over quarterback Kyler Murray - saying he would select Murray first overall in the draft - the former Red Raiders coach was announced as the new Arizona Cardinals head coach -- owner of the number one pick. The story was so incredible because Kingsbury ended up a head coach despite having no NFL experience, Arizona only traded up to get quarterback Josh Rosen in last year's draft, and Murray was inked to a deal with MLB franchise the Oakland As. Sure enough, Kingsbury delivered on his promise and nabbed Murray first overall -- a move that couldn't be believed until it was announced. The subsequent Rosen trade will mean the two players will be linked together for the remainder of their NFL careers.
3) The Browns hit Top 10 in Power Rankings
Few teams in any sport have looked as miserable as the Cleveland Browns over the last 20 years. Cleveland has posted two winning seasons en route to a 95-224-1 record - an average of under five wins per year -in that span. But suddenly the team has a charismatic head coach, an incumbent stud at quarterback and a plethora of play-makers on the field. Running backs Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb were position leaders when they played in 2018, as was tight end David Njoku. The trade for Olivier Vernon shores up the front seven with Myles Garrett while cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams look like a phenomenal secondary pairing. The Browns were rightfully the talk of the league this off-season, and will have twice as many prime time games in 2019 as they have in the last three years to show for it.
2) Odell Beckham Jr. jettisoned from New York
Who'd have thought “We didn’t sign Odell to trade him” were famous last words? Well after signing one of the NFL's most-famous players to the richest ever wide receiver contract - that included a $20 milion signing bonus - in August, Giants general manager Dave Gettlemen ate his words and sent Odell Beckham to the Browns. The GM came in for huge criticism after receiving just a first- and third-round pick along with safety Jabrill Peppers but defended the move by saying three players is better than one. While Beckham was at first shocked, he moves to the aforementioned Browns where he is likely on a more competitive roster.
1) Antonio Brown forces trade
The biggest story of the off-season has so many layers to it. It began with superstar wide receiver Antonio Brown missing a Week 17 game for the Steelers and ended after weeks of back-and-forths with Brown and the team. There was cryptic tweets, meetings with owners, a dodgy moustache and even a cancelled trade with the Bills before Brown found himself as a member of the Oakland Raiders. It's not often teams let situations get as out of hand as this was, but when it involves one of the most-talented and outspoken wide receivers ever, it's not a surprise that this became a hot topic on sports channels. The news that Brown's first training camp with the team will be covered by HBO's Hard Knocks means we won't even have to wait until the regular season to see how he's getting on in the black and silver.
HONOURABLE MENTION
Jets fire general manager Mike Maccagnan weeks after NFL Draft
Nothing highlights a mess more than a general manager being fired right after his most important time of the year: free agency and the draft. Throw a head coaching hire on top of that and you wonder what kind of dysfunction was going on behind-the-scenes in New York. Mike Maccagnan unceremoniously appears largely to do with head coach Adam Gase's appointment, and Gase wanting to be surrounded by "his guys". The move doesn't look so bad now that the team landed the unheralded Joe Douglas from Philadelphia, but it shows the cut-throat attitude Gase has towards his staff.
Reuben Foster cleared of domestic abuse charges before getting injured
Washington came in for huge criticism when it claimed linebacker Reuben Foster off waivers in November -- despite the 25-year-old's release from San Francisco over domestic abuse allegations. The Redskins looked to have gotten a steal when charges against the former first rounder were dropped, but a devastating blow followed when Foster tore his ACL during the team's first OTA practise. He looks set to return in 2020.
Patrick Peterson trade rumours
You couldn't convince me Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson was ever going to be traded. The team completely shot those chances down last season and weren't going to forget how talented P2 is because of his suspension. Fans that thought otherwise don't understand how important a lock-down corner is. Nonetheless, this story got quite a lot of traction, and you only need put his name into Twitter to see that even now.
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