It may not be a good time for sports, but as vaccine rollouts continue across the country, we can expect the 2021 NFL Season to be the most momentous in the League’s 102-year history.
For one, this is the second year of the pandemic. Amid reschedules and objections to vaccine mandates, the 2021 Season is expected to go full swing as new health regulations are enforced to protect players, staff, and fans from infection.
Beyond that, this NFL season is one for the books, and the developments running up to it will add excitement despite these strange times. Here are a few takeaways for this season:
Standoff with the Packers
The year started with drama. During the offseason, Green Bay Packers MVP Aaron Rodgers has had a well-publicized feud with his team with many speculating that Rodgers would end up leaving Green Bay . However, things have cooled down when both sides agreed to a new contract in which Rodgers will indeed be saying goodbye to the Packers after ’22. As a recap, the cold war was due mainly to personnel decisions. This also plays into the fact that Davante Adams won’t be signing a contract extension with the Packers. This season will also be his last despite his stellar touchdown record.
A new playing field for wide receivers
Last year, Justin Jefferson made his stellar debut as the Vikings’ wide receiver. A talented player who has had an impressive run at LSU, Jefferson made the rounds for receiving an NFL rookie record of 1,400 yards. He’s not the only promising personality. As a matter of fact, he belongs to a batch of talented wide receivers like Jaylen Waddle and Ja’Marr Chase who are expected to demonstrate their prowess in this historic season.
The 49ers are Making a Rebound
During the 2019 season, the 49ers were the dominating team finishing at 13-3. Although the team had had a devastating showing last year after their defensive end Nick Bosa suffered a serious knee injury. Bose, who was Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2019, underwent surgery on his left ACL and has since recovered, showing off his readiness for ’21. Another 2020 casualty is quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo who injured his ankle during a Week 2 against the Jets. Now, he is more than ready to help the team pick off from last year.
It’s going to be a long season for everyone
Did we mention that this season is going to be momentous? One good reason is the fact that this will be the longest NFL season since 1978. Whereas regular seasons consist of 16 games, this season will have 17 games across an 18-week span. This can go either way. The longer seasons go, the more likely players get injured and spend the next offseason recovering. The upside to this, however, is that this season will give younger players enough space to prove their MVP potential.
Plenty of free agents to go around
While many NFL franchises are still addressing salary cap issues, there are free agents who are looking for teams they can contribute their talents to. World Sports Network has a list of the top ten remaining free agents and we can see a lot of familiar faces who are looking for the best franchises. For one, Sheldon Richardson is looking to be a good fit for the Titans owing to his 16 QB hits and 116 combined tackles as a defensive lineman under the Cleveland Browns. Cornerback Brian Poole, who maintains an amazing record playing for the Jets, was touted as a top pick for the Las Vegas Raiders until he was signed with the New Orleans Saints. There’s also edge rushers like Justin Houston and Melvin Ingram on the list.
The NFL going hard on vaccine hesitancy
ESPN reported that the NFL management rolled out a new policy that’s meant to convince players to get vaccinated. Under the new guidelines, the NFL will not forfeit any game should there be a virus outbreak in one team. If the game can’t be rescheduled, it will be deemed forfeited and the team where the outbreak started will be the loser and will have to share in the lost revenue for that game. It seems harsh, but there is a reason why these new guidelines won’t work. For one, the majority of the players have already been vaccinated. There’s also the impracticality of canceling games and declaring forfeits. As health protocols are being relaxed across the country, the NFL cannot afford to push through with its new policy as ticket sales continue to pick up.
Low blocks are now a no-no
While the NFL isn’t expected to roll out a new rule on taunting, it is definitely going to enforce a new rule against low blocks. That’s right, defensive and offensive players are not allowed to block below the waist lest they get slapped by a 15-yard penalty. Such techniques were considered normal before and many defenders who are used to going low will need to adjust to the new rule. What’s allowed, however, are blocks below the waist inside what is called a “tight end box.” Even so, players will still need to make major adjustments in the way they take blocks.
Will the Buccaneers enter the Super Bowl?
There has been talk going around about the Bucs’ Super Bowl prospects. The season has just started and the world of football is abuzzed by the team’s potential for a back-to-back win at the SoFi Stadium. It’s too early to tell, but an article from The Cold Wire article points out a few reasons why a Buccaneer victory is very unlikely. First, it’s impossible judging from the Chiefs’ experience after winning the 2020 Super Bowl.
There is also the fact that Tom Brady is now 44 years old. He has carved an amazing run starting with the Patriot. Nevertheless, age is going to catch up and with the Super Bowl still five months away, we can only accept the inevitable truth that Brady is getting too old for the league.
A lot can happen in the run up to the Super Bowl, but the season is looking to be a stellar one after an 11-month off season.
