OVER THE TOP
Improved Pats’ quest for another title leads 2017 NFL topics
By STEVE SERBY We celebrate the open of training camps when the addictive smell of the NFL is in the air and the Jets are still 0-0 and tied with the Patriots. So The Post provides a primer on the top-10 storylines to look for on the Road to Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis and who to look for and where to look for them.
1. The G.O.A.T
If life begins at 40, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick will be hoisting their sixth Lombardi Trophy together because receiver Brandin Cooks, cornerback Stephon Gilmore and defensive end Kony Ealy are youthful upgrades to the defending champs. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell should do himself a favor and bring Deflategate earplugs when he finally shows his face at Gillette Stadium for the Thursday night opener.
2. The 2015 quarterback class
Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are primed to make a playoff run. Winston has been armed with a new deep threat and complement to Mike Evans in DeSean Ja ck s o n and a new tight end in f irst- round draft pick O.J. Howard. Mariota welcomes first-round receiver Corey Davis and exJets WR Eric Decker.
3. Dak to the future
Tony Romo is in the CBS booth with Jim Nantz, so Jerry Jones is praying there is no sophomore jinx for Dak Prescott. But the Cowboys might want to temper the expectations for another 23 TD-4 INT repeat — especially if and when sidekick Ezekiel Elliott earns himself a suspension.
4. Suck for Sam Sweepstakes
The commish will be vigilant on keeping the integrity of the game if and when the Browns and Jets embark on a calculated tank job, subtle or otherwise, for a shot at USC quarterback Sam Darnold, should he decide to declare for the draft.
5. Skittle big man
Marshawn Lynch is back, eager to be Beast Mode for his hometown team in Oakland, and help $25 million man Derek Carr take the Raiders back to t he Super Bowl — where Ly nc h mi gh t announce he is just at Media Day so he don’t get fined.
6. The 2004 quarterback class
This is Philip Rivers’ first season in Los Angeles, and he still trails Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning by two Super Bowl championships. Big Ben may or may not retire after this season, and Manning’s window may close after the 2018 season when heir apparent Davis Webb is ready.
7. The 2016 quarterback class
Jared Goff has the Hollywood looks, but he looked lost as a rookie while the Eagles celebrated the Rams passing on Carson Wentz with the first-overall pick. Goff has a new head coach in offensive wunderkind Sean McVay, and Wentz has a new go- to receiver in Alshon Jeffery and new deep threat in To rr e y Smith.
8. Odell Beckham Jr.
The undisputed, underpaid Ni k e celebrity lightning rod who unquestionably will trot out new-and-improved touchdown celebrations thanks to the less restrictive No-Fun-League edict.
9. Good-luck horseshoe
January shoulder surgery might cause Andrew Luck to miss the preseason. The Colts desperately need him to remember how to be their Peyton Manning, and one of the faces of the NFL, again.
10. The f irm of Riveron, Yurk and Mackie
Senior VP of officiating Alberto Riveron, VP of instant replay and administration and VP of officiating evaluation and development replace Dean Blandino, who escapes to FOX Sports as NFL and college football rules analyst. In s t a n t - r e pl ay verdicts now are rendered in a league-office command center. Zebras no longer will go under the hood, merely serving as on-f ield consultants. steve. serby@ nypost. com