The 2009 NFL football season is finally underway. Today marked the beginning of the majority of teams Off-Season workout practices. Most players will return back from their homes and vacations to begin the crucial physical training preparation needed to compete on game days. Some players have new homes and new teammates to meet thanks to Free Agency. While a small handful of players still have not shown up at all (ex: Jay Cutler; Broncos).
Let’s take a look at 5 players we are excited to see return to the field and will be watching this offseason:
1. Tom Brady (New England Patriots) Over the past year, we’ve heard more about the 2007 NFL MVP in gossip magazines than on the football field, thanks to marrying Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen and injuring his left knee in the 2008 Week 1 game against Kansas City. A lot of questions have been asked if Brady would be healed in time for the 2009 season, and a big hint came when New England traded away fellow starting QB Matt Cassel (Chiefs). Brady will have new WR targets to throw to this year in recently traded for WR Greg Lewis (Eagles) and free agent signed WR Joey Galloway (Buccaneers).
2. Osi Umenyiora (New York Giants) The last game that this 2007 Pro Bowler played in was Super Bowl XLII, when the Giants upset the undefeated New England Patriots. During a 2008 preseason game against the New York Jets though, Umenyiora suffered cartilage damage in his left knee that ended his entire 2008 season, before it even began. The Giants played well in his absence though, with fellow DE Justin Tuck earning Pro Bowl honors. Now Osi will get some new help on the defensive line with recently added free agents DE Chris Canty (Cowboys) and DT Rocky Bernard (Seahawks).
3. Felix Jones (Dallas Cowboys) While 2008 marked the year of the rookie running backs, Jones made a mark on the first 6 games of the season before tearing his left hamstring against the Arizona Cardinals. The 22nd overall first round draft choice chalked up 266 yards rushing on 30 carries for an average of 8.9 yards/carry; including a 98 yard kickoff return for a touchdown bringing his TD total to 4. Jones will enter 2009 competing with fellow RB Marion Barber for playing time but expectations will be high in Big D with Jones in the backfield.
4. Alex Smith (San Francisco 49ers) The former #1 overall draft pick in the 2005 NFL draft returns to the playing field after missing the majority of the past two seasons with a shoulder injury. While some around the league have begun to label Smith as a bust, the QB is only 24 years old and even took a pay cut this off-season to return to the 49ers for “unfinished business”. Smith will be working with his 5th offensive coordinator in 5 seasons and will compete against fellow QB and best friend Shaun Hill. The 49ers still believe that Smith has potential to be a great NFL QB and will give him every opportunity to succeed.
5. Lawrence Taylor (Dancing with the Stars) The original “L.T.” is back on the national scene, staring in the dancing based reality show made famous by fellow football players: Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith and Warren Sapp. The Hall of Fame and 10-time Pro Bowl Linebacker, known for his on-field reckless abandon and off-field drug use, has been sober and playing golf for the past ten years. After 1,088 career tackles and 142 career sacks, Taylor has proven to be a tackling and QB sacking machine; but will he be able to salsa dance?
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