The best and worst of the NFL
A look back at the NFL year that was 2016: Best social statement: Colin Kaepernick quickly became one of the most polarizing figures in the country as he ignited a movement by sitting and then kneeling during the national anthem as a method to protest the killings of unarmed African-American men by police as well as other social injustices. While the then-backup quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers needed to explain that his protest wasn’t meant to slight the U.S. military, he brought attention to issues that concerned many and sparked a national conversation. The bold move demonstrated that often-apathetic athletes still possess such power if they are willing to risk the fallout. It not only inspired other NFL players to engage in various forms of
protest but also provided fuel for athletes in other sports on all levels to make similar statements. Worst blunders to under
mine a social statement: Kaepernick should have been more strategic in following up his protest after getting the eyes and ears of America, not to mention the support of the 49ers, who donated to organizations addressing social justice issues. Yet here are three things that Kaepernick did that didn’t help his cause: 1. Wearing the police-as-pigs socks. 2. Wearing a T-shirt with the image of Cuban dictator Fidel Cas- tro, then coming off as misinformed and insensitive when it was called into question. 3. Failing to vote on Election Day. Even if he didn’t like the choice between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, he could have engaged in the process nonetheless. There were other candidates for posts lower on the ballot and other issues that he could have used his vote to support. Best example that the NFL draft is an inexact science: Dak Prescott was a fourth-round
pick by the Dallas Cowboys, selected 135th overall — or 134 slots after the Los Angeles Rams christened the draft by choosing former California quarterback Jared Goff. Now, Prescott, flanked by fellow wonder rookie Ezekiel Elliott, has a Pro Bowl selection on his résumé and shares the NFL record with Ben Roethlisberger for most victories (13) by a rookie quarterback after replacing injured Tony Romo. What did so many teams in the quarterbackstarved league miss about the Mississippi State player? Even the Cowboys made attempts to trade up to draft Paxton Lynch, then Connor Cook, which proves that sometimes the best moves are the ones that you don’t make. Worst footage from a Hard Knocks moment: The signature moment from the premiere episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Los Ange
les Rams was coach Jeff Fisher on a rant, declaring: “I’m not going 7-9!” Fisher was right. He didn’t go 7-9. He was wrong, too. The Rams fired him in early December when he was 4-9, robbing him of the chance to go 7-9 and ending a weird saga that included a contract extension that wasn’t announced by the team until days before his firing and a spat with franchise great-turned-critic Eric Dickerson. With his 165 career losses matching Dan Reeves for most in NFL history, Fisher’s dismissal did spare him from setting the coaching record for futility.
Best comeback: Steve Smith Sr. was set to retire last year but didn’t want to go out on the sour note of a torn Achilles tendon. Now, having proved he can still get it done at 37, notching the 1,000-catch milestone, No. 89 said Wednesday that he was “89%” sure that Sunday’s game at the Cincinnati Bengals will be the last of his remarkable career. The Baltimore Ravens star will be missed for his grit, fire and memorable remarks such as those uttered in 2014 after he dusted his former Carolina Panthers teammates: “I ran around those boys like they were schoolyard kids.” Worst double standard: Cam Newton seems to get blasted more than any other NFL quarterback without drawing penal- ties — despite the league’s focus on safety and head injuries. It hasn’t helped that Newton has status as an MVP, an active community servant or even a fashionista with his unique game-day attire. Nor has it helped that Newton called Commissioner Roger Goodell or publicly declared that he doesn’t feel safe on the field. The no-calls on Newton have gone on for years, while other quarterbacks seem to draw flags when a defender breathes too hard on them. There are enough examples — including Newton taking multiple blows to the head in Week 1 at the Denver Broncos and the October game when Arizona Cardinals lineman Calais Campbell crashed into his knee in the pocket — to fuel the notion that Newton doesn’t get the proper respect and protection from officials. Needs. To. Stop. Best free agency spending spree: New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese sought to upgrade a defense that ranked last in the NFL in 2015 by guaranteeing more than $100 million on free agent deals to lure three players: end Olivier Vernon, tackle Damon Harrison and cornerback Janoris Jenkins. It looks like money well spent. The Giants are in the playoffs, and the 11thranked defense sure has Dallas’ number. The Cowboys’ two losses have come against New York, which has had answers for Pres-
cott, Elliott and Dez Bryant. Worst free agency spending
splurge: Yes, Houston has a problem when it signs Brock Osweiler to a $72 million contract (with $37 million guaranteed) and the quarterback lands on the bench. The Texans went after Osweiler, who had limited experience in Denver, because he was the best quarterback on the market. But money doesn’t always solve problems. When Tom Savage stepped into the lineup, he became the eighth quarterback to start for the Texans in Bill O’Brien’s three seasons. Best coaching debut: Adam Gase has lived up to his billing as a hot, rising star in the coaching ranks. The Dolphins (10-5) are in the playoffs for the first time since 2008, overcoming a 1-4 start. And the running back Gase delivered a message to by leaving him home for the season opening trip to Seattle, Jay Ajayi, became the fourth player in NFL history to rip off three 200-yard rushing games in a season. Draft maneuver to secondguess: The jury is out on whether the Cleveland Browns made the right decision by moving out of the second slot in the draft and passing on Carson Wentz. The early returns are not good, as Wentz, who beat the Browns in his NFL debut for the Philadelphia Eagles, looks the part of a legitimate franchise quarterback. Meanwhile, Cleveland is trying to determine whether it can salvage Robert Griffin III’s career. Sure, the Browns have a stockpile of picks, including two in the top 10 of next year’s draft. But until they land a star quarterback, they will be linked (if not haunted) by what might have happened with Wentz. Worst contract dispute: The stalemate between the San Diego Chargers and first-round defensive end Joey Bosa lasted until Aug. 29, which kept him out of training camp, the preseason and the beginning of the regular season … after he got hurt once he finally hit the practice field. So much for the rookie wage scale ensuring that every top prospect will arrive on time. The sticking points in this dispute involved payout of guaranteed money and offset language in the event that Bosa is cut before the end of his contract. When Bosa got into the flow, it was evident that the Chargers needed him. With 91⁄ sacks 2 in 10 starts, he’s the differencemaker he was projected to be and probably the front-runner for defensive rookie of the year honors. Best rebound from Deflategate: Tom Brady missed four games serving a four-game suspension for his alleged role in a conspiracy to keep footballs underinflated in the AFC Championship Game in January 2015. Now he’s the MVP front-runner as the New England Patriots (13-2) match the Cowboys for the NFL’s best record. Worst NFL investigation: Ask Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison and Green Bay Packers defensive stars Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers. They never failed a drug test but were implicated in a probe relating to performance-enhancing drugs. They were ultimately interviewed (after prolonged NFL vs. NFL Players Association sparring on the issue) and eventually cleared along with retired quarterback Peyton Manning, but the case lingered for months as the NFL followed up on seemingly flimsy allegations by a questionable source in a documentary.