PFR Polls - Pro Football Rumors

Poll: Which Rookie QB Will Be Best In 2014?

August 14th, 2014 at 8:55am CST by Luke Adams

ESPN’s Ron Jaworski made comments earlier this week that raised a few eyebrows, suggesting that he believed Cardinals signal-caller Logan Thomas has been the best rookie quarterback he’s seen so far this summer (link via Marc Sessler of NFL.com).

“When I plugged the tape in yesterday morning and I saw Logan Thomas, I was shocked,” Jaworski said on ESPN yesterday, referring to the Cards’ contest against Houston. “He was fantastic in this game. He’s big, strong and he can rip throws. … Of all the rookie quarterbacks that I’ve watched so far – yes, early in the preseason – Logan Thomas has been the best that I have seen.”

Even if Jaworski’s assessment of Thomas is spot-on, the sixth quarterback selected in this year’s draft may not have the opportunities for playing time that many of the guys selected ahead of him will have. Carson Palmer isn’t an elite QB, but for a Cardinals team expecting to compete for a postseason berth, he’s the more reliable option than the rookie at this point.

On the other hand, players like Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles, and Derek Carr will play for teams who combined for a total of 17 wins in 2013. While the Browns, Vikings, Jaguars, and Raiders may have aspirations of a playoff spot, it would be somewhat surprising if any of those clubs actually earned one.

As such, those situations are more ripe for a rookie quarterback to receive a more significant opportunity, to help him develop and learn his new team’s system in preparation for contention in a year or two. Perhaps a strong performance from one of those rookie signal-callers in 2014 could even help his club contribute immediately.

Still, for now, veterans like Brian Hoyer, Matt Cassel, Chad Henne, and Matt Schaub remain penciled in as starters, so there’s no guarantee that any one of those rookies makes a huge impact this season. What do you think? Which rookie do you expect to have the most productive 2014 campaign?

Poll: How Long Will Gordon Be Suspended?

August 12th, 2014 at 3:36pm CST by Luke Adams

It’s been a little over a week since we heard that a decision on Josh Gordon would be made in about one to three weeks, so an announcement from the league on the Browns wideout could come any day now. Facing a year-long suspension for repeated violations of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, Gordon and his representatives made the case at his appeal hearing earlier in training camp that the penalty was unwarranted, and that Gordon’s positive test – which barely passed the league’s strict threshold, was a result of second-hand smoke.

Given the way the league’s appeal system works, hearing officer Harold Henderson will have to make an all-or-nothing judgment on Gordon, either upholding the initial year-long suspension or wiping out the ban entirely, allowing the Browns receiver to play in Week 1 and beyond. As such, it was expected that the NFL and NFLPA would attempt to negotiate a settlement, perhaps reaching a compromise that saw Gordon’s suspension reduced, but not altogether eliminated.

As of last Thursday, no settlement talks between the two sides had taken place. However, there’s no guarantee that’s still the case, five days later. Jason Cole of Bleacher Report indicated yesterday that the league would “like to find a way” for Gordon to play for at least a portion of the 2014 season, in part because a year-long ban for a transgression most fans don’t view as significant would create bad PR for the NFL coming so closely on the heels of Ray Rice‘s modest two-game penalty for an ugly domestic abuse incident.

From the perspective of Browns fans – and fans of the NFL in general – a season without Gordon, who racked up an incredible 1,646 receiving yards in just 14 games last season, would be a huge disappointment, but there isn’t a ton of wiggle room when it comes to the league’s policy relating to substance abuse. So a settlement may be Gordon’s best chance of seeing the field this year.

What do you think? Will Gordon’s suspension eventually be upheld, eliminated, or reduced?

Poll: Should the NFL Keep Practices Open to Media?

August 10th, 2014 at 8:36pm CST by David Kipke

Earlier this weekend, both Jim and John Harbaugh went on the record to discuss their displeasure with practices being open to the media. The brothers think that reporters overstate the impact of in-practice fights as a result of a lack of substantial news during the monotonous days of training camp. The Ravens’ coach believes that “99 percent” of practice conduct is great and positive, and is disheartened by what he feels is disproportionate negativity in the media.

What do you think? Should NFL personnel have to put up with the fact that football is a business and the media deserves total access? Or has news coverage become so intrusive that it detracts from the product that teams are able to put on the field?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section!

Poll: Who Will Win The NFC South?

July 30th, 2014 at 9:55am CST by Luke Adams

The NFC South was a two-team race in 2013, with the 12-4 Panthers ultimately eking out the division title over the 11-5 Saints. However, unlike in most of the NFL’s other divisions, the defending NFC South champions aren’t the frontrunners to take the crown again in 2014 — betting side Bovada.lv has New Orleans as the odds-on favorites to win the South.

The Saints certainly look good heading into the season, having added first-round wideout Brandin Cooks to an already explosive offense and signed star safety Jairus Byrd to fortify the secondary. But they aren’t a lock to win one of the league’s most intriguing divisions.

According to Bovada, the Panthers aren’t even the second-most likely club to win the South in 2014. That distinction goes to the Falcons, who won the division in 2012 before unexpectedly slipping to 4-12 last season. Having revamped their offensive and defensive lines this offseason – with rookie tackle Jake Matthews, guard Jon Asamoah, and defensive linemen Paul Soliai and Tyson Jackson among the new additions – the Falcons are poised to bounce back.

Another 2013 underperformer, the Buccaneers, shouldn’t be ruled out as a contender either. As our Zach Links detailed last night, Tampa Bay’s ’13 season was derailed by controversy surrounding then-coach Greg Schiano and then-quarterback Josh Freeman, but the club has made a number of interesting offseason moves, including signing defensive end Michael Johnson and drafting Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans. The Bucs’ success – or lack thereof – this coming season may hinge on Josh McCown‘s performance under center, since the roster is certainly loaded with plenty of talent at other positions.

And of course, last season’s division champs shouldn’t be overlooked. A candidate for regression, Carolina’s cap struggles forced the team to part ways with a few key contributors, including longtime Panther Steve Smith, and there are questions about whether Cam Newton will have enough weapons to utilize. But this is still a strong team, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, where few clubs have a scarier pass-rushing duo than Carolina’s Greg Hardy and Charles Johnson.

What do you think? Who wins the NFC South in 2014?

Previously:
Who will win the AFC North?
Who will win the AFC West?
Who will win the AFC South?
Who will win the AFC East?
Who will win the NFC North?
Who will win the NFC West?
Who will win the NFC East?

Poll: Who Will Win The NFC East?

July 25th, 2014 at 4:59pm CST by Luke Adams

As is the case with most other divisions around the NFL, the team that wore the crown a year ago heads into the 2014 season as the favorite to do so again — last year, the 10-6 Eagles beat out the Cowboys and Giants for the NFC East division title, and Philadelphia is the frontrunner to take the division this year as well.

Few other divisions in football have been as balanced over the last decade than the NFC East, however. Within the last five seasons, all four teams have finished atop the East at least once, and in the last seven years, no club has won the division more than twice. While the Eagles, even without DeSean Jackson, are favored in 2014, their three challengers all have solid rosters, and could topple Philadelphia if things break right.

Last year’s runner-up – Dallas – has finished with an 8-8 record for three straight seasons, and the pressure will be on this season to improve upon that mark. The club had limited cap flexibility to make offseason upgrades, but made several signings on the defensive line, and added Zack Martin to a talented offensive line that already features multiple stars. There are question marks at a few areas on the field, particularly on the defensive side, where linebacker Sean Lee will miss the season. But the Cowboys have some upside.

So too do the Giants, who got off to a horrendous start in 2013 and couldn’t make it back to .500, as Eli Manning set a new career high in interceptions (27). With a new offensive coordinator and scheme in place, there’s optimism that Manning can limit the turnovers. And while there were plenty of veteran departures, the team was active in free agency adding replacements, including cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, running back Rashad Jennings, and guard Geoff Schwartz.

As for the Redskins, a 3-13 team a year ago, they aren’t viewed as a consensus cellar-dweller. Betting site Bovada.lv gives Washington 4:1 odds to win the East, just behind the Cowboys and Giants, and a healthy Robert Griffin III should singlehandedly boost the team’s win total. With receiving playmakers DeSean Jackson and Andre Roberts added to the mix, and a new coach and offensive coordinator on board, the Redskins’ offense could once again look like the exciting, dangerous unit we saw two years ago, during Griffin’s rookie season.

What do you think? Do any of last year’s non-playoff teams have the talent to take down the Eagles, or will Philadelphia become the NFC East’s first repeat division champion since 2004?

Previously:
Who will win the AFC North?
Who will win the AFC West?
Who will win the AFC South?
Who will win the AFC East?
Who will win the NFC North?
Who will win the NFC West?

Poll: Who Will Win The NFC West?

July 21st, 2014 at 2:23pm CST by Luke Adams

It was only a few years ago – in 2010 – that the 7-9 Seahawks won the NFC West, earning a playoff spot by virtue of a tiebreaker with the 7-9 Rams. The division may have been a punchline at that point, but much has changed since then. In 2013, the NFC West’s four teams combined for an impressive 42-22 record, while no other division in the conference even had a .500 overall record.

The Seahawks took advantage of a division win and a first-round bye, en route to a Super Bowl victory, and they’ll head into 2014 as the favorites to repeat. Having re-signed a handful of key contributors, including defensive end Michael Bennett, the club looks poised for another great season. But there are plenty of notable departures to consider as well – wide receiver Golden Tate, defensive end Chris Clemons, tackle Breno Giacomini, and cornerback Walter Thurmond were among the free agents who signed elsewhere, which could open the door for another team to take the division crown away from Seattle.

The top contender is likely San Francisco, a team that won 12 games of its own in the 2013 season and gave the Seahawks everything they could handle in the NFC Championship Game. Like their division rivals, the 49ers didn’t undergo a major roster overhaul in the offseason, with Antoine Bethea representing the club’s only real significant free agent addition. But there’s so much talent on both sides of the ball that the Niners enter the season as a legit Super Bowl contender without having made any major changes.

One of last year’s most surprising teams, the 11-win Cardinals, were unlucky to miss out on the playoffs, but turned plenty of heads by nearly keeping pace with the Seahawks and Niners all year long. While Arizona may be a candidate for regression in 2014, another strong season from Carson Palmer should keep the team competitive, and newly-signed tackle Jared Veldheer should help ensure that Palmer has the time he needs to find Larry Fitzgerald and co.

The dark horse in the West is St. Louis, the division’s only sub-.500 team last season. Because they’d acquired Washington’s first-round pick for the 2014 draft, the Rams were able to add potential stars on both sides of the ball, selecting offensive tackle Greg Robinson and defensive tackle Aaron Donald. In the NFL’s toughest division, the Rams will have an uphill battle to leapfrog the three clubs above them. However, the amount of talent on the roster, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines, will make St. Louis a tough team to play in 2014.

What do you think? Are the Seahawks headed for another division title, or can another NFC West club unseat them?

Previously:
Who will win the AFC North?
Who will win the AFC West?
Who will win the AFC South?
Who will win the AFC East?
Who will win the NFC North?

Poll: Which 49ers Will Get Extensions?

July 17th, 2014 at 7:46pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, the 49ers announced that they have extended left tackle Joe Staley through the 2019 season. Staley’s previous deal took him through the 2017 season and the additional two years makes it likely that the soon-to-be 30-year-old will finish his career in San Francisco. Of course, there’s still more work to be done for the 49ers as tight end Vernon Davis and right guard Alex Boone are demanding new contracts. Staley declined to comment specifically on the two players who skipped the 49ers’ offseason program and did not attend the mandatory minicamp, but expressed optimism that things would work out.

“Speaking on those players you’re alluding to, they’re very, very talented players,” Staley said, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “And speaking of Alex Boone, he’s someone that I have the upmost respect for, and really, really hope that we can play our entire careers together. He’s someone I have a ton of respect for. And want to see him here. “It’s his situation, and whatever he wants to get done, I have the confidence the Niners and him will work it out.”

While terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed, it’s possible that Staley’s contract could be designed to give SF a little bit more breathing room in the short-term to get deals done for others. In addition to Davis and Boone, the 49ers have extension candidates in wide receiver Michael Crabtree and left guard Mike Iupati. Iupati, a two-time Pro Bowler, could be in line for a big payday if he explores his options on the open market after the 2014 season. Crabtree should be in line for a hefty deal himself and as Luke Adams explained earlier today, the deals signed by Eric Decker ($7.25MM per year, $15MM guaranteed) and DeSean Jackson ($8MM per year, $16MM guaranteed) should be a floor for him. However, it might make more sense for both parties to wait until after this season to work on a new deal for Crabtree. After an injury shortened season, a strong 2014 could boost Crabtree’s haul and give SF more confidence in offering a long-term pact.

So, we’ll leave it to you. Which of these players (if any) will receive new deals before the start of the season?

Poll: Impact Free Agents

July 12th, 2014 at 3:30pm CST by Rob DiRe

279 free agents changed teams this past offseason, but some will have more of an impact than others, writes Nathan Janke of ESPN.com. Jahnke has highlighted five players who have a chance to come in and immediately transform their team.

His top five are Branden Albert (Dolphins), Jairus Byrd (Saints), Eric Decker (Jets), Michael Johnson (Buccaneers), and Karlos Dansby (Browns).

The list seems to be missing key contributors at first glance, as big name players such as Darrelle Revis (Patriots), DeMarcus Ware (Broncos), Aqib Talib (Broncos), and Julius Peppers (Packers) fail to garner even a mention. When looking at impactful free agent pickups, even Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Giants) and Hakeem Nicks (Colts) could have been considered, as both have a chance to come in and prove their worth immediately.

However Jahnke justifies his selections by pointing out how each of the five teams he highlighted struggled in 2013, and how these five free agents were brought in specifically to turn that particular need around quickly. His reasoning pairs a statistic the team was at the bottom of the league in, with a free agent was near the top:

The Dolphins, for example, had a mess at left tackle with Jonathan Martin and Bryant McKinnie on the field, creating a revolving door for pass rushers to fly through. Albert ranks third in the NFL in pressures allowed per game since 2011.
Byrd was brought in to turn around a Saints defense that led the league in passing yards allowed by the safeties. Byrd’s specialty is eliminating plays of more than ten yards over the middle of the field, and turning the mistakes in that area into interceptions.
Decker was the fifth-best receiver in the NFL in terms of yards accumulated on passes 20 yards or deeper down the field. The Jets quarterbacks were last in the league in passer rating when targeting receivers in 2013.
Johnson is fourth in the league in pressures as a right defensive end since the beginning of the 2012 season. The Buccaneers defensive ends have missed more than twice as many tackles than the NFL average for the position.
The Browns were third worst in the NFL in passer rating allowed by inside linebackers in 2013, and dead last in yards after catch allowed. Dansby led the league in passes defended at the position the past two season.

Jahnke ranks them in that order, but there are other free agents to consider as well. Every team hopes the players they sign in the offseason will be able to close up the biggest weaknesses on their roster, and not all of them can live up to expectations.

Poll: Who Will Win The NFC North?

July 11th, 2014 at 1:58pm CST by Luke Adams

While the NFC North was home to the league’s tightest division race in 2013, it wasn’t exactly a thrilling ride — with the benefit of a tie, the 8-7-1 Packers eked out the division crown over the 8-8 Bears and the 7-9 Lions. It was the Packers’ third straight NFC North title, but it was by far the least convincing, in large part due to to an injury that limited Aaron Rodgers to only nine games.

Rodgers is healthy and will look to lead Green Bay to a fourth consecutive division title in 2014, but the Packers won’t have an easy path. Major changes were afoot throughout the NFC North this offseason, including a pair of elite veteran pass rushers joining division rivals. When Julius Peppers made the move from the Bears to the Packers, Chicago responded by signing former Viking defensive end Jared Allen.

Elsewhere in the division, the Lions bolstered an already dangerous offense by inking wide receiver Golden Tate to a lucrative five-year contract and selecting tight end Eric Ebron with the 10th overall pick in May’s draft. The Bears added not just Allen, but also defensive end Lamarr Houston and rookie cornerback Kyle Fuller, who will look to help stabilize the defense on a team whose offense features arguably the best duo of wideouts in the NFL (Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery).

Meanwhile, 2013’s last-place finishers, the Vikings, may find themselves on the outside looking in if it turns into a three-team race. But Minnesota’s offseason shouldn’t be dismissed. The team bolstered its defense by inking linemen Linval Joseph and Everson Griffen to long-term deals, then drafting linebacker Anthony Barr with the ninth overall pick. Throw in a potential franchise quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater and this is a roster with upside, even if the club may still be a year or two away from making any real noise.

What do you think? Will the Packers’ streak be snapped in 2014, or will Green Bay sit atop the North again at the end of the regular season?

Previously:
Who will win the AFC North?
Who will win the AFC West?
Who will win the AFC South?
Who will win the AFC East?

Poll: Will Geno Smith Finish The Year As Jets Starting QB?

July 10th, 2014 at 9:58pm CST by Zachary Links

Nothing is set in stone, but Michael Vick sounds resigned to serving as Geno Smith‘s backup for the Jets this season. Many expected the former All-Pro quarterback to immediately come to East Rutherford, New Jersey and supplant Smith as the starter, but he has said nothing but complimentary things about the rising sophomore and claims that he’s just there to be the No. 2 QB on the depth chart.

“I think it can happen this year,” Vick said last month regarding the prospect of Smith leading the Jets to a Super Bowl win, according to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. “I think Geno can take us to where we need to go. It’ll seal my legacy — for me, myself. For the public, I don’t know.”

Strangely enough, Vick might be one of Smith’s biggest supporters out there. In a recent poll of league executives, ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) found that Smith was voted as the NFL’s worst starting quarterback. Joe Namath also isn’t a fan of Smith’s, but then again, Broadway Joe seems to enjoy criticizing any Jets team that came after the 1976 season. Smith showed flashes of last season and helped lead the Jets to an 8-8 mark, but some questionable passing decisions left many observers wondering if he’s ready to be a starter and if he’ll ever be ready, period.

Odds are, Smith will be the starter in Week 1 against the Raiders, but who do you believe will wind up as the Jets starting QB for 2014 when all is said and done?

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