Thirsty for NFL? Try these subplots heading into camp

Let’s see, the NFL’s top defensive player had back surgery, a top running back could face a four-game suspension and a potential rookie of the year is finding his name associated with domestic violence.

Just think of all the news once training camps get underway for all 32 teams this week.

It’s the second surgery for J.J. Watt, the two-time reigning NFL defensive player of the year. The early word is Houston is hoping he will miss only the preseason, but herniated disks don’t always respond so quickly — especially for those who rely on core strength as the basis for everything they do.

Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell, who missed the last 10 games

after knee surgery, apparently also missed a drug test, according to ESPN. In the eyes of the NFL, that’s the same as failing one, so chances are that when appeals are exhausted, Ben Roethlisberger will navigate the first four games of the season without a 244-pound hammer in the middle.

As for Ezekiel Elliott, a running back taken in the first round by the Dallas Cowboys, the NFL will investigate charges by his girlfriend to TMZ that he attacked her. (Elliott denies it, and police reports say there are witnesses backing him up.)

Other stories that will play out over the next month while NFL teams prepare for the 2016 season include:

Handling the hype

All the positive press the Raiders got for their offseason moves caused newly signed linebacker Bruce Irvin to insist on Twitter, “We gotta put the work on the field and we will!”

Teams in every sport are fond of saying they don’t get any respect. The Raiders could be the first team to go into camp with a chip on their shoulder for getting too much.

Chipping away

The 49ers will radically change their culture and mindset under coach Chip Kelly, but the biggest story out of Santa Clara will be whether Blaine Gabbert or Colin Kaepernick will be entrusted with Kelly’s up-tempo offense.

Gabbert is the early favorite, in part because Kaepernick spent most of his offseason recovering from thumb and knee surgeries.

Patriot games

With Tom Brady accepting a four-game “Deflategate” suspension to start the season, it affords coach Bill Belichick a chance to peer into the future.

With training camp, the preseason and a quarter of a season for evaluation, the Patriots should discover whether or not Jimmy Garoppolo is the answer when the 38-year-old Brady finally starts showing signs of age.

In shock over Brock

The Houston Texans shelled out $37 million in guaranteed money and possibly as much as $72 million in all to sign free agent quarterback Brock Osweiler, who put pen to paper before he ever met coach Bill O’Brien in person.

This is the same Osweiler who couldn’t keep the starting job in Denver over Peyton Manning, who played out the final year of his career as wily but noodle-armed gamemanager for a defensive minded Super Bowl champion.

RG3 reboot

As offensive coordinator and then head coach of the Raiders, Hue Jackson got the best out of previous underachievers Darren McFadden and Darrius Heyward-Bey by emphasizing their strengths — a simple but often-overlooked concept.

Now as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Jackson attempts to revitalize Robert Griffin III, a Heisman Trophy winner in 2011, NFL offensive rookie of the year in 2012 and a Washington washout thereafter.

Jackson will give it his best shot, and he will be decisive — keep in mind he’s also the guy who sold Al Davis on giving up on JaMarcus Russell.

Losing a Lynch-pin

To borrow a phrase from Reggie Jackson, Marshawn Lynch was the straw that stirred the drink in Seattle.

Russell Wilson continues to get better at quarterback, and the defense remains formidable, but there’s a void in terms of persona and charisma with Lynch having retired.

Goff watch begins

Cal’s Jared Goff was going to be under scrutiny anyway for being the first pick in the NFL draft. Throw in the fact that the Rams have moved back to Los Angeles and that training camp at UC Irvine will be chronicled on HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” and every success and failure will be magnified.

How will the Rams get Goff up to speed? Hint: Running back Todd Gurley had better be prepared for 300-plus touches.

Cowboys questions

Let’s see, the Cowboys’ defense already has issues with defensive ends DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory as well linebacker Rolando McClain facing a four-game suspension for violating the policy on substance abuse.

Now the team that signed up defensive end Greg Hardy (suspended for domestic abuse) a year ago is dealing with the Elliott report, and all Elliott is supposed to do is rush for 1,300 yards.

The Cowboys, who might want to consider adding a parole officer to the staff, could use some good news.

Peyton to Paxton?

Just about everything executive vice president John Elway touched turned to gold last season, as evidenced by a Super Bowl 50 championship in the golden anniversary year.

Elway was equally bold this season after Manning retired, bringing Mark Sanchez aboard rather than Kaepernick or Ryan Fitzpatrick and then getting Paxton Lynch of Memphis in the first round of the draft.

The smart money is on Lynch taking over at some point during the season, so camp development will be key.