NFL Preview Part IV: Narratives

A narrative is a story. In the case of the sports, sports journalism and well journalism a narrative is almost a heuristic. A story that symbolizes a larger story and thereby explains more than it should or holds interest for reasons that may or may not be important. In short they will be on the tip of the tongue on SportsCenter, the radio and the casual fan. Narratives are often on people as issues and topics are harder for narratives to be spun around. As such here are my top 5 expected player related stories

1. Return of Injured Quarterbacks -

While quarterbacks returning from injury are a common occurrence (heck any player returning from injury) it appears that there are an abnormal amount of crucial quarterbacks returning to playoff or potential playoff teams. Palmer and Culpepper's knee must somehow be well enough for the Bengals and Dolphins to make a playoff push. While the Dolphins have Joey Harrington to fall back on, Cincinnati no longer has Jon Kitna and as such is praying for a healthy Carson starting in week 1. No knee, no qb, no playoffs. I've already noted that Rothlisberger could well have physical problems all throughout the year as a surgically repaired face and psyche might not be up to the beating a quarterback is supposed to take. Marc Bulger and Donovan Mcnabb both have potential playoff teams, if they are healthy. Groin injuries tend to linger on and on and Bulger has been beaten like the proverbial government mule over the past few years.

2. Rookie Running Backs

In this case I'm actually not thinking of Reggie Bush. The far more important running backs, in regards to the playoffs, are Joseph Addai, Laurence Maroney and Deangelo Williams. Can the Colts replace James? Edgarin was important not only for the running backs but for the blitz protection. Without a running game and certainly being exposed to blitzes Manning might once again fall flatter than Nicole Richie. Carolina came within a game of the Super Bowl. Arguably the biggest hole in their game was a running game. If Williams can work his magic, don't be surprised if Carolina is in the Super Bowl. Finally, Belicheck and Company targeted Maroney so they had another option other than soon to be put out to pasture Corey Dillon. Will the Pats offense have balance and thereby allow the defense a breather?

3. Trading Kickers

The Colts hopes at the Superbowl were shanked right by that "drunk kicker". The Cowboys hopes at the playoffs repeatedly hit the upper crossbar. Belichek's genius has historically been upheld by the leg of Mr.Clutch. While these story lines didn't seem connected at the end of last year, they certainly are now. Rather than pay Vinateri, New England let Mr. Clutch head to the Shang-Ra-La of kickerdom known as the RCA Dome. If New England's kicker (to be named) misses a crucial kick the aura of Bill's invincibility will forever be punctured. If the Colts can't win it all with the best kicker when it counts in the land, perhaps its not meant to be. If Vanderjet can hit more than 3 field goals, it will be an improvement for Dallas.

4. Trading Places

There is a strong tradition in sports to compare players via where they were drafted. Fortunately or unfortunately this year's draft has two meta-story lines: The #1 Pick and QBs. Houston, in a surprise move to everyone that hasn't time traveled, chose Mario Williams over Reggie Bush. They will constantly be compared for their entire careers and questions of Mario's worthiness of that number one spot will go on and on eternity. Vince Young was selected in front of Jay Cutler and Matt Leinart. The three of them of will forever be linked. I don't expect Cutler to see the playing field this year but Young and Leinart probably will (given the frailty of their team's starters) and judgments will be rendered as to the worthiness of the order of the drafting.

5. Rankings

This is more of annoyance of mine than of importance but there will be constant rankings of top 32 teams, or coaches on hot seats, or players most likely to eat light bulbs, or fans likely to throw light bulbs at the players (I keep telling the NFL not to have free light bulb day but do they listen to me?). Anyway these rankings are fun to engender passionate responses (How dare you rank the Chiefs #17) but really don't do much in terms of real analysis and are typically used by the lowest of the low sports writers. Anyway that's your top five ranking of possible narratives…