USA TODAY International Edition
Seahawks shift focus to unity
A quick read previewing Week 1 in the NFL…
Big story: Seattle Seahawks players revealed that they will engage in a demonstration before their opener against the Miami Dolphins that is themed around unification. It’s a nice gesture and the timing is perfect, with Sunday marking the 15th anniversary of the 9/ 11 attacks. Just don’t confuse it with a protest, even though one of the Seahawks, Jeremy Lane, took a seat during the national anthem before the preseason finale at the Oakland Raiders. Receiver Doug Baldwin said the idea is to make a statement as a team rather than as individuals, and they surely have that right to be proactive. And hey, the way things have gone in the USA, it’s not a bad look — and surely one that flag- wrapped Commissioner Roger Goodell would approve of — if the Seahawks can remind the world of how the nation was so united after 9/ 11. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned from San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s protest to call out police brutality and societal inequalities against African- Americans and other minorities, there are way too many people in this country who don’t give a damn about so many of the principles that our nation is supposed to represent.
Who’s hot? Dak Prescott. Looks like the Dallas Cowboys nailed it with the fourth- round quarterback from Mississippi State, drafted with the vision of maybe developing into a longterm successor for Tony Romo. Well, with Romo on the injury list again with a broken bone in his back, Prescott is the short- term successor, too. During his sizzling preseason, Prescott eased a lot of concerns by looking the part of the capable backup that Dallas lacked last season. In addition to the physical skills — he can throw and run — Prescott drew raves for being a quick study and a levelheaded leader. Key matchup: Jordy Nelson vs. Jalen Ramsey. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has his deep threat back in Nelson. Nelson’s absence had a ripple effect on the Packers passing game as others, including Randall Cobb, weren’t as effective working underneath. So now Nelson, who led the NFL with seven receiving touchdowns of at least 20 yards in 2014 before blowing out his anterior cruciate ligament in the preseason last year, can maybe open things up again. It figures to be quite the NFL debut for supremely talented Ramsey, with an opportunity along with the rest of the young Jacksonville Jaguars defense to make quite a statement against one of the NFL’s most prolific offenses.
Next man up: Shaun Hill. The Minnesota Vikings traded a firstround pick to land QB Sam Bradford in the wake of the knee injury that wiped out Teddy Bridgewater’s season, but Mike Zimmer is not ready to turn over the reins yet to the new quarterback. That’s understandable, con- sidering that Bradford must come in and absorb Norv Turner’s system. Hill, a 15th- year veteran journeyman, can certainly handle it until Bradford is ready. Ironically, the last time Hill played extensively, in St. Louis for nine games in 2014, was the result of a Bradford knee injury.
Rookie watch: Carson Wentz. It’s striking how the Philadelphia Eagles went from a “redshirt year” for Wentz to an openingday start. On one hand, you’d expect a quarterback drafted second overall to hit the field quickly. But what’s weird is that Wentz hasn’t played in a game since the preseason opener because of broken ribs. Apparently, he’s shown enough on the practice field. Now let’s see whether he’s learned that he can’t be as reckless as he was in his last game action … or he’ll be right back in the infirmary.
Did you notice? Another year, another new coordinator for Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. Dowell Loggains is the third offensive shot- caller in as many years for Cutler, following new Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase and the Marc Trestman/ Aaron Kromer combination. Cutler is surely used to it by now. Since he joined the Bears in 2009, he has had seven coordinators, including Ron Turner, Mike Martz and Mike Tice.
Stat’s the fact: Robert Griffin III, opening at a familiar venue in Philly on Sunday, marks the Cleveland Browns’ 25th quarterback since the franchise was revived in 1999. Say what? From usually loquacious New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett, 29, when asked to assess the fairness of the Deflategate penalty that sidelines Tom Brady for a quarter of the regular season: “It’s like speaking on the O. J. ( Simpson) trial. I wasn’t around for any of that.”