50 MOST FASCINATING PEOPLE IN THE NFL
1 Tom Brady Patriots QB (2016: 10) The G.O.A.T tries to share The Joy of Six with Gisele. If Life Begins at 40, forget about tanking, the Jets might think about seceding.
2 Odell Beckham Jr. Giants WR (6) The hair, the cleats, the emotion, the passion, the soap opera, the drama, the onehanded catches, the electrifying touchdowns, the end zone dances, don’t dare take your eyes off this guy. Money Mayweather? Get ready for Money Beckham.
3 Marshawn Lynch Raiders RB (NR) Beast Mode’s triumphant return with the Silver & Black. Getcha Skittles ready.
4 Tony Romo CBS broadcaster (45) There will be growing pains for the TV rookie who replaces Phil Simms and will have to be carried early on by Jim Nantz. But at least no back pain.
5 Dak Prescott Cowboys QB (14) Beware the Sophomore Jinx. Don’t count on 23 TDs and four INTs this time. Especially with Ezekiel Elliott serving his suspension.
6 Ezekiel Elliott Cowboys RB (18) The Sophomore Jinx already has struck. Though behind that offensive line, 1,000 rushing yards over 10 games — if he’s forced to miss six — would be hardly unrealistic.
7 Derek Carr Raiders QB (NR) He is poised to be a Beast Mode quarterback. That’s why he’s the $25 million man.
8 Tom Coughlin Jaguars executive vice president (NR) M.J.G.A — Make the Jaguars Great Again. At least as great as you can make them with Blake Bortles at quarterback instead of Eli Manning.
9 Sean McVay Rams coach (NR) Hooray for Hollywood if this 31-year-old can bring Jeff Fisher’s stodgy 14-points-agame offense out of the Dark Ages and work wonders with Jared Goff.
10 Colin Kaepernick Free agent QB (5) Wherever and whenever he finds a home, he vows to stand for the national anthem from now on, and the cameras will find him.
11 Jerry Jones Cowboys owner (33) He expects a Super Bowl championship. Especially after paying a visit to Pope Francis at the Vatican. Divine intervention, anyone?
12 Bill Belichick Patriots coach (3) The hoody, the press conferences that have to be seen and heard to be believed, the G.O.A.T.
13 Adrian Peterson Saints RB (24) He’s on the back nine in New Orleans … but he’s Adrian Peterson. Just not All Day.
14 Von Miller Broncos LB (1) With 73.5 sacks in 88 career games, he’s every quarterback’s worst nightmare.
15 Long-suffering Jets fan (NR) So conflicted. Tanks for nothing? Or thanks for tanking if it means Sam Darnold or Josh
Rosen?
16 J.J. Watt Texans DE (13) Back from back-toback back surgeries, he’s champing at the bit to reclaim defensive player of the year honors, whether or not there’s blood streaming down his face.
17 Rob Gronkowski Patriots TE (34) The headline said it all: “Gronk partied shirtless with Flo Rida and racked up a $102K bar tab.”
So you can be a party animal on those occasions when Bill Belichick’s hypnosis wears off.
18 Jay Cutler Dolphins QB (48) Kristin Cavallari’s $10 million Dolphin reunites unexpectedly with Adam Gase.
19 Joe Mixon Bengals RB (NR) Can the controversial second-round draft pick run away from his domestic violence past? As usual, the Bengals roll the dice first, ask questions later.
20 Andrew Luck Colts QB (NR) No. 12 has gotten his shoulder fixed. Or has he? Now he’ll pray an offensive line that surrendered 41 sacks last season will give him a chance to be elite again if his shoulder allows it.
21 Antonio Brown Steelers WR (NR) He’s the NFL’s highest-paid receiver at $17 million per. He’ll keep getting open and Ben Roethlisberger will keep finding him.
22 Jameis Winston Buccaneers QB (26) Tampa Bay got him DeSean Jackson and O.J. Howard, and he already had Mike Evans.
23 Martellus Bennett Packers TE (22) Now that he’ll be catching touchdown passes from Aaron Rodgers, look for the Black Unicorn to come out of his shell.
24 Leonard Fournette Jaguars RB (NR) Doug Marrone’s blunt force trauma, a 235-pound hammer who takes the heat off Blake Bortles and is a legitimate Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate.
25 Khalil Mack Raiders LB (NR) His 26 sacks over the past two seasons have him likely securing a defensive record-smashing $20 million per contract. The Raiders’ Von Miller.
26 Carson Wentz Eagles QB (NR) More help in the form of WRs Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith and RB LeGarrette Blount has arrived. No boobirds for No. 11 at the Linc. Fly, Eagle, Fly.
27 David Johnson Cardinals RB (NR) Fantasy football freak (2,118 yards from scrimmage, 20 TDs, 1,336 receiving yards in past two seasons).season The NFC version of Le’Veon Bell. Bruce Arians plans on getting him 30 touches a game.game
28 Matt Ryan Falcons QB (NR) Will Matty Ice suffer a Super Bowl hangover with his OC Kyle Shanahan now coaching the 49ers? When in doubt, throw it to Julio Jones.
29 Marcus Mariota Titans QB (NR) First-round pick WR Corey Davis and Eric Decker make him downright dangerous.
30 Jared Goff Rams QB (NR) The face of the Rams franchise had zits as a rookie. His new head coach is a quarterback whisperer — ask Kirk Cousins — but he’ll be looking over his shoulder at Sean Mannion unless he steps up for Sean McVay.
31 Deshaun Watson Texans QB (NR) Bill O’Brien and the Texans won’t hesitate starting the former Clemson national champion quarterback sooner rather than later over Tom Savage.
32 James Harrison Steelers LB (NR) How many 39-yearold pass-rushers do you know? Amazing what $350,000 a year on a team of masseurs, chiropractors, acupuncturists, a dry-needling person and a natural path doctor can do.
33 Josh Norman Redskins CB (16) He’s plotting mayhem again on Beckham — on Thanksgiving night, no less — and Dez Bryant. Getcha checkbook ready.
could pay off after all. Great kid, great story, great comeback from devastating nerve-damage knee injury. Great player if he can one day make it all the way back.
35 Martavis Bryant Steelers WR (NR) Ben Roethlisberger’s 6-foot-4 deep threat returns after missing the 2016 season (substance abuse violation).
36 John Lynch 49ers GM (NR) San Francisco’s rookie GM crushed the draft, but there are miles to go before he sleeps. Brian Hoyer is his bridge quarterback. Not exactly a Golden Gate.
37 Roger Goodell NFL Commissioner (9) The Commissioner They Love to Hate faces the post-Deflategate boobirds opening night in Foxborough. It would behoove him to put an arm around Bob Kraft early and often and don’t let them see you sweat.
38 Landon Collins Giants S (NR) A charismatic Big Blue rising star who will be in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation again.
39 Rex Ryan ESPN broadcaster (12) Just keep him in the studios, where he won’t be going to kiss Bill Belichick’s rings, and out of the bars.
40 Aaron Rodgers Packers QB (29) A bachelor again after breaking up with Olivia Munn and the last quarterback anybody wants to face.
41 Darrelle Revis Free agent CB (40) The ex-Jets legend is looking for a new home possibly at a new position — safety — following a nightmare 2016, on and off the field. Unless he isn’t looking while counting his $6 million golden parachute.
Christian Hackenberg 42 Jets QB (NR) Is he the answer or is he not the answer to the Jets quarterback curse? Probably not, but we’ll find out whenever he takes over early for Josh McCown.
43 Cris Collinsworth NBC broadcaster (NR) In a league of his own on a broadcasting team in a league of its own with Al Michaels.
44 Alberto Riveron NFL director of officiating (NR) Replaces Dean Blandino in a season that marks the debut of centralized instant replay.
45 Matthew Stafford Lions QB (NR) Detroit’s franchise quarterback is the highest-paid player (six years, $151.5 million) in the game.
46 Sam Darnold/Josh Rosen USC QB/UCLA QB (NR) OK, they’re not in the NFL yet, but the Jets, Browns, Bills and Jaguars will be keeping their eyes on these 2018 draft prizes all season.
47 DeShone Kizer Browns QB (NR) The rookie from Notre Dame gets the nod as
Cleveland’s starting quarterback. He can’t be worse than Johnny Football, right?
48 Myles Garrett Browns DE (NR) The first overall pick of the 2017 draft should have the Dawg Pound barking up a storm.
49 Le’Veon Bell Steelers RB (NR) A 2,000-yard running-and-receiving machine (75 receptions in 12 games), the AFC version of David Johnson. And a rap machine who goes by the name Juice in his first album, “Post Interview.”
50 Cam Newton Panthers QB (4) Compelling theater whether he is Superman or the Incredible Sulk. Was limited in training camp following rotator cuff surgery in March and seeks redemption for a subpar 2016 season. Who dropped off last year’s list? Chip Kelly (2); Russell Wilson (7); Robert Griffin III (8); Kirk Cousins (11); Victor Cruz (15); Richard Sherman (17); Paul DePodesta (19); Dez Bryant (20); Michael Bennett (21); Mark Davis (23); Kathryn Smith (25); Stan Kroenke (27); Pete Carroll (28); Richie Incognito (30); Ndamukong Suh (31); DeMarco Murray (26); Doug Baldwin (35); Geno Smith (36); Laremy Tunsil (37); LeSean McCoy (38); Mika Grimes (41); Brandon Marshall (42); Jimmy Garoppolo (43); DeSean Jackson (44); Dan Snyder (46); Drew Brees (47); Robert Nkemdiche (49); Mortiz Boehringer (50)