Marc's Remarks: Manning and HGH, Real or Fabrication?

Peyton Manning was accused of using HGH during his neck
rehab. Manning strongly denies these reports. Photo by: Andy Lyons

This past week, the sports world was rocked with yet another cheating scandal. A report was issued by Al Jazeera, an international news organization based in Qatar, linking Peyton Manning, among other NFL players, as using human growth hormone (HGH), a banned substance in the NFL.

Manning was accused of using HGH during the rehab he had for his neck, which caused him to miss the entire 2011 season. The report said that Manning had the supplements sent to his home under his wife’s name.

Manning returned to the NFL the next year. During the 2013 season, he set NFL records for yards, touchdowns and points scored in a single season on his way to leading his team to the Super Bowl. Manning has since gone on to set practically every quarterback record. He is a sure Hall of Famer, most likely ending his career after this season.

Oh no. Here we go again. Accusations of yet another beloved sports hero.

But this isn’t just any sports hero. This is the equivalent of Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky or David Beckham. Manning is likely the most well known football player in the world. Even people who don’t follow football know who Peyton Manning is.

He is one of the most marketable athletes ever. From Papa John’s, DirecTV, Master Card and Nationwide to his appearances on Saturday Night Live, Manning is a recognizable icon. His goofy sense of humor has brightened our lives for years. He is also one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time.

Now with these accusations, Manning’s integrity has been called into question. We have been through this before. Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa and steroids, Lance Armstrong and blood doping, Alex Rodriguez and others in the Biogenesis scandal.

In this age, people are quick that believe such reports. After all, we have been deceived before. When Lance Armstrong admitted on Oprah that he had indeed cheated, the world was shocked. We believed that he had overcome the odds of cancer and had been clean on his way to many consecutive Tour de France titles. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice. You know the rest.

We want to believe that these men and women use their own training, willpower and determination to realize their athletic achievements. But how can we know the truth?

Manning vehemently denies any act of malfeasance. Manning is downright angry about the reports. The usually calm Manning used coarse language when answering questions about the report.

"I think I rotated between being angry, furious," he said in an interview with ESPN's Lisa Salters. "Disgusted is really how I feel, sickened by it. I'm trying to understand how someone can make something up about somebody, admit that he made it up and yet somehow it gets published in a story. I don't understand that. Maybe you can explain it or somebody else can.”

Other athletes named in the report used similar language when answering questions this week about their involvement. Green Bay Packers linebacker Julius Peppers was baffled about his name being linked to the report.

"It's completely erroneous and I think it's irresponsible journalism, in my opinion," Peppers told the Chicago Tribune. "I'm subject to the same steroid and drug-testing policy as everybody else, so I don't understand how I could be linked to something like this. I do not know anybody that's involved in this."

In this case and in this writer’s opinion, Manning and Peppers have earned the benefit of the doubt. They are some of the most respected individuals in the NFL. Until we see actual proof, and not just hearsay from a former employee, who now says that this is a fabricated report, I trust them.

This might be another case of irresponsible journalism. Anyone anywhere can post anything about anybody. This is the era of anonymity. As a trained journalist, this report was released without substantial evidence. Journalists are supposed to be able to support their facts. With Armstrong, these facts were presented to where Armstrong couldn’t deny it anymore. Until that happens, Manning and the others will remain spotless in my mind.

Journalism isn’t what it once was. It used to be about integrity, not flash. It used to be about getting to the truth, not getting a reporter’s name out there. Journalism is now ruled by clicks of a mouse or views on a page. Some take it too far and will write something as click bait. This has launched far too many careers.

Citizens deserve better than this. Journalists have a responsibility to the public. Journalism is known as the fourth branch of government. It’s time they start acting like it again. While sports are an entertainment industry and in the scope of things aren’t really that important, false accusations against public figures for clicks isn’t right. Journalism isn’t Hollywood.

Peyton isn't quite done yet, we learned that last season from Tom Brady

By Marcus Jensen

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady drops back to throw against 

the Kansas City Chiefs last season. Brady was benched in the 4th quarter 

in a blowout 41-14 Chiefs victory. Photo by: David Eulitt

It began last year with a week-four loss to Kansas City. In a press conference following the game, Bill Belichick gave his usual nonchalant answers about how his team was moving on to prepare for the Bengals the next Sunday. Then a reporter asked what a lot of people were thinking.

"Do you have a quarterback controversy going into next week?"

Was Brady finally in decline. Had age finally won its inevitable victory over the 3-time Super Bowl champion?

Wait. Did he ask Belichick if one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game was in danger of losing his job to a second-round pick from Eastern Illinois University in his rookie season? Yes, he did.

Belichick, in his usual mantra, scoffed at the question, chuckled and moved on to the next question. Of course he wasn't going to bench Tom Brady. It wasn't the same as when Drew Bledsoe was injured and replaced by a sixth-round pick from the University of Michigan.

Fast forward to the end of the season. The Patriots won 10 of their last 12 regular season games on route to three wins and a Super Bowl championship in the post season. Tom Brady was named Super Bowl MVP after leading two fourth-quarter touchdown drives against the No. 1 defense in the NFL last season.

Forgetting the "Deflategate" debacle that ensued, there was no one questioning Tom Brady's abilities as a quarterback after last season.

Denver Broncos quarterback Petyon Manning was all smiles on

the sidelines Thursday after his team overcame a 14-point first 

half deficit to beat Kansas City with a late defensive touchdown.

Photo by: Ronald Martinez

Moving into this season, many of the same questions were fired at Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. Manning struggled down the stretch of the 2014 season. He had a quad injury and seemed to have lost what little zip he had left on his passes.

In his final five games of the 2014 season, Manning threw four touchdowns against six interceptions. He was missing on his deep ball, a weapon that helped him throw for 55 touchdowns and 5,400 yards one season earlier on route to his 5th MVP award.

Going into the first game of the 2015 season, Manning and his offense had yet to find the end zone in three preseason games.

Critics weren't silenced after his first performance of the regular season. He threw for just 175 yards, averaging a paltry 4.38 yards per pass against the Baltimore Ravens. He missed on two long passing plays that almost certainly would have gone for touchdowns. He also threw a pick-six and was bailed out by his defense, who produced a pick-six of its own to win the Broncos the game.

Manning was in a new offense from the one that he quarterbacked into the record books in 2013. His new head coach Gary Kubiak wanted to be a run-first team. Manning was running more plays from the line of scrimmage than he had at any time in his playing career.

Again cue the Kansas City Chiefs.

Down 7-0 in the first quarter, Manning had the ball and rolling right, he under threw his receiver, throwing inside on an out route. The ball was picked off by rookie cornerback Marcus Peters, who promptly returned the pass to the end zone for six.

Two pick-sixes in his last three quarters of play. Was it time to warm up Brock Osweiler and shut down the greatest statistical quarterback in the history of the league? Was it time for "The Sheriff" to give his badge over to his deputy and ride into the sunset?

Not so fast.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders catches a

pass from Petyon Manning in the final minute of the game,

tying the score. The Broncos defense would force a fumble and

return it for a touchdown to win the game. Photo by: John Reiger

Manning marched right back onto the field and captained a 10-play, 80-yard drive, including a 16-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders to put the Broncos right back into the game. It was Manning's first touchdown in over 100 passing attempts.

After his defense picked off Alex Smith for the first time, Manning had a short field and threw his second touchdown in his last three pass attempts, finding Virgil Green in the back of the end zone to even up the score at halftime.

Manning got away with a few lame ducks in the second half. He made Peters look like Darrelle Revis for the first three quarters of the game. Peters nearly had two more interceptions, but they were dropped. But when the chips were down, the Sheriff again put on his badge and went to work.

His passes may have lost some zip. They may wobble in the air as they make their way downfield. But they are usually on point. They can still deliver the fatal blow to the bandits, whether at high-noon or on a Thursday night in Arrowhead Stadium. Manning hadn't lost his quick-draw release. He may have lost a step or three, but not his mental fortitude.

Manning found his regular season magic once again. Following a touchdown drive that gave the Chiefs the lead with 2:27 left in the game, Manning was put into the line of fire again. How would he respond?

Delivering his best throws of the night, as well as the longest, Manning completed passes of 22, 17 and 15 yards to his monster, 6'4" receiver Demaryius Thomas. The last one was a perfectly delivered jump ball against Peters, who was no match for the perfect throw and the big-bodied Thomas.

Five plays later, Manning again hit Sanders with 36 seconds left for a 19-yard touchdown to tie the game. On the ensuing drive, Denver's defense stripped Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles and returned it to pay dirt, giving Denver their second win of the season.

While the Denver defense may have been the deciding factor, causing two Charles fumbles, one in the red zone and the other on the tail end of the Manning touchdown, as well as two interceptions, Manning was once again the star.

With the game on the line, Kubiak put the game in Manning's hands and he returned to his MVP form. In the two-minute drill, Manning is his most comfortable. He has run a two-minute offense practically his entire career that has spanned parts of three decades.

Peyton Manning throws a pass in a game against the Kansas
City Chiefs. In the game, Manning became the second player
to throw for more than 70,000 yards. He currently has 70,122
passing yards, trailing Brett Favre's all-time record by just
1,716 yards. Photo by: AAron Ontiveroz

Yes, Manning will have to ride his defense more this year. Yes, he needs to rely more on his running game. Yes, he will have to rely on the short passing game because of his arm strength. Yes, he will still have to have his quick release behind a suspect offensive line. But Manning still has some juice left in him, even if this is his last ride.

This will probably be the last season that we see Manning. This seems like his final hurrah. His emotion on the sidelines after his touchdown drive and his defense's scoop-and-score was telling.

He may have had the same questions that the media had of him. Had he lost his ability to be effective? At least for one more week, the answer was a resounding no.

And Manning knows that he can still do it. It might not always be pretty, but his wobbly passes still can find a way to win the game. On Thursday, he became the second player in NFL history to throw for more than 70,000 yards.

When will the media stop doubting the living legends that continue to surprise and dazzle even the most skeptical of fans?

None of us want Manning's final season to end the way that it did for the man he is chasing for the all-time passing yards lead. Brett Favre had the worst season of his career and knew his playing days were over when he hit his head on the frozen ground after a sack by the Chicago Bears in December 2010. He would never play another snap.

But aren't we glad the Ol' Gunslinger played until he himself knew he couldn't play anymore? Until Manning sees that he can't perform at a high level, should we doubt him? History tells us never to count out the greats. They always will find a way to surprise us.

A 39-year-old Favre led his Vikings team to one play from the Super Bowl. He had nothing left to prove. He just had his love for the game. A 38-year-old Tom Brady led his team back to the promised land after being doubted in a similar fashion to Manning.

Father Time always claims his prey. But the Sheriff has at least 14 games left. When he gives up his place, he will ride into the sunset as one of the best to ever play the game. He will do it on his own terms. Let's sit back and watch him write what just might be his final chapter. Let's hope it is a worthy ending for one of the greats.

Marc's Remarks:

Hayward Buzzer-beater Brings Hope to Himself and Jazz Fans

By: Marcus Jensen

Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward shoots a buzzer-beater 

versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Melissa Majchrzak

3.4 seconds left on the clock and the Utah Jazz and Cavaliers are tied. LeBron James had just evened the game with three free-throws. It's do-or-die. Overtime or game-winner.

Forward Gordon Hayward took the inbound and received a screen which happened to knock James to the ground. He dribbled right, stepped back and fired a fadeaway over Tristan Thompson.

As the ball went through the hoop, the crowd erupted in approval. But there was something different about this buzzer-beater over any that I have seen previously. It was the look on the face of Hayward after the shot found the net.

Hayward had a grin from ear to ear. I don't know exactly what went on in his head, but I can venture a guess, because I have seen that face before. It was joy, but also a sense of relief. After all he had gone through, all the talk that had surrounded him through the offseason. After he had signed the maximum contract to stay in Utah. He knew what he just did was special for his team and for the fans.

Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward celebrates with teammates 

after hitting a game-winner against the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Photo by Andrew Bernstein.

The Jazz had offered Hayward a deal for him to stay in Utah, somewhere around $12 million a year. Hayward and his agent asked for $13 million, which the Jazz refused. Hayward then shopped himself around the league and received an offer from Charlotte to the tune of a maximum contract, $16 million.

The Jazz were at an impasse, match Hayward's maximum deal or let yet another player leave the team in free agency – the new face of the franchise. The Jazz matched the offer.

Then came the reports that the Jazz had matched the offer, much to the chagrin of many Jazz fans. "Why wouldn't you give him $13 million but would give him $16 million?" "Hayward isn't a max-deal kind of player."

Hayward was even asked this in a press conference, "Is it your goal this season to live up to the contract you got?" To the dismay of those same Jazz fans, Hayward said he didn't feel like he had to live up to anything. He had received the contract and that was that. Perhaps Hayward realized that wasn't the right thing to say, even if that is how he truly felt.

His contract said that he was now "the man." He is the number-one option for the Jazz and he is expected to live up to that standard every night for the foreseeable future. That is a big weight to carry, even for the ninth pick of the 2010 NBA Draft. It was something that many fans weren't sure he could handle.

In that moment, after sinking the game-winning shot against the team with the best player in the NBA, the look Hayward had on his face was one of relief. He had proven himself to the fans. He had proven himself to the organization. He had proven himself to himself.

Yes, it is only one game. Hayward has had game-winners before. But there was something different about this one. It seemed, after some difficult seasons, Hayward was finally enjoying basketball again. He believed in himself, his teammates and his coach. Hayward sees the upward swing the team is in now. He sees their arrow pointing up and he is part of it.

Hayward said on his blog that he believes this team can win each and every game it plays. He didn't have that confidence in years past. And for the most part, he was right. The Jazz have lost a few close games. This isn't the team being pummeled night in and night out. This is a competitive team. Even if the record doesn't show it, this team has improved leaps and bounds already over last season. This team has new life it had been lacking.

Hayward is a big part of that. He is playing at an all-star level early in the season. He has taken the leap that all Jazz fans expected of him. There have still been some bumps but the improvement is obvious. The future is bright in Utah. The present is fun to watch. The past is finally behind them. It will be a fun ride.

No Hard Feelings: Favre's Return Reminds a Fan Why He First Started Loving the Game

Marc's Remarks

No Hard Feelings: Favre's Return Reminds a Fan Why He First Started Loving the Game

By Marcus Jensen

Brett Favre runs onto the field after the
Packers defeated the New England Patriots
35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI.

This past week, the Green Bay Packers announced that three-time MVP and Super Bowl XXXI-winning quarterback Brett Favre would have his jersey number retired and would be inducted into the Packers' Hall of Fame.

Favre was traded to the Packers from the Atlanta Falcons during the 1992 season and became the starter soon afterward. Favre went on to set nearly every passing record, including most touchdown passes, most yards and most completions. Beginning week four of the 1992 season, Favre started 253 consecutive games for the Packers over 16 seasons.

Favre announced his retirement from football in the 2008 offseason, leading the way for current starter Aaron Rodgers to take the starting job. After attempting to make a comeback as the Packers' starter, Favre was traded to the New York Jets. He later played for the Packers' rival, the Minnesota Vikings, for two seasons, leading them to the NFC championship game in the 2009 season.

Favre officially retired from football in 2010, amassing 508 touchdown passes, 71,838 yards passing, 6,300 completions and 336 interceptions, all NFL records.

Bad blood existed between Favre and Packers General Manager Ted Thompson. Bad blood also existed between many Packer fans when Favre went to play for the Vikings. This week's announcement is an attempt to put those to rest, although some Packer fans still hold a grudge against Favre, and say they would boo him when he makes his way back onto the hallowed grounds of Lambeau Field.

I have been a fan of football for as long as I can remember. But I didn't have a favorite football team growing up. I would just watch the games on Sunday and Monday, enjoying the action.

That was until one particular year. I can't remember the game, I can't remember the score, but I remember the team. It was the Green Bay Packers. I sat on my couch at home watching no. 4 running and slinging the ball around the field. I remember seeing his face as he threw a touchdown pass. The pure elation that he showed captured me that day. I became a Favre fan.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre lifts receiver Greg
Jennings onto his back after throwing for his record 421 touchdown,
surpassing Dan Marino as the all-time leader.

Favre played with a passion and a love for the game that I had never seen before and have never seen since. He hooked me into football becoming my favorite sport and the Packers as my favorite team. Watching a grown man act like an excited kid was something refreshing. I owe Favre for making me the fan that I am.

I still remember the game against the Vikings where Favre became the all-time touchdown leader. He threw the ball to Greg Jennings. He then went on to rush down the field with his arms up and a huge smile on his face. He then lifted Jennings onto his shoulders and carried him a few yards down the field before running with his teammates back to the bench. Moments like that are vintage and classic Favre.

 I remember sitting through a 4-12 season. I also remember sitting through Brett's final season, going 13-3 before losing in the NFC Championship Game to the New York Giants in 2008. I remember the highs, with an incredible throw to win the game, and the lows, with Brett trying to make something happen, before losing the game on his trademark interception. Every game, he played the same way– as a kid out in the backyard, slinging a football around without a care in the world. No wonder his nickname was "the Gunslinger."

Then Favre gave his memorable retirement speech, unbeknownst to anyone as something that would later be taken back. He cried as he announced giving up the game that he loved. That speech still lives on in me. His actual retirement speech didn't give the same feeling.

Then the Packers moved on. After a struggle in his first season, going 6-10, Aaron Rodgers hasn't missed the playoffs for the Packers. And Favre went on to have a successful season for an arch-rival, before having a nightmare final season in Minnesota.

Now, I never held a grudge against Favre for wanting to continue his career after the only team he had really played for had moved on. I didn't even hold a grudge when he went to a division rival. I missed him at times during that 6-10 season, but I continued as a true green and gold fan.

And why would I hold a grudge? Brett was my favorite player. He helped me learn to love the game of professional football. And after he left, another future Hall-of-Famer took his place. Rodgers has provided the Packers with a Super Bowl of his own, along with being the most efficient quarterback of all-time.

Why would I hold a grudge when the Packers have continued the success that Favre started – a return to glory of the most storied franchise in the NFL? Why would I be mad when a man wanted to continue to play the game he loved? Can I blame a guy for wanting to play in a dome in a familiar division? Especially with him staying meaning that we would have probably lost Aaron Rodgers to free agency.

If I am able to go to Lambeau Field when Favre's number is retired and he runs out one last time from the tunnel, I would be the loudest fan in the stadium. He not only gave me many memories as a Packers fan, but he engrained in me a love of football that I hope to never lose. I owe Brett Favre for the love of the game that I have.

As a Packers fan and as a Favre fan, I urge all fellow Packer fans to look back on what Favre did for the franchise. Now look at where we are now. We have the best quarterback in the league behind center. We have another championship in Title Town. Our arrow is pointed up this season. We are one of the few franchises that can say with certainty that we are title-contenders this year.

The Packers have been better over the last four seasons than they maybe have ever been since the days of Lombardi and the days of consecutive league titles. What is there to be mad about? Let's enjoy the ride. Go Pack go!

Baseball: America's Favorite Past Time

“Take me out to the ballgame.” It is a song that most Americans have heard at least once in their lifetime. But it would seem that less and less Americans actually would like to be taken to a ballgame, or watch one on T.V.

Baseball has long been known as ‘America’s pastime,’ but now it could be considered America’s past time. The NFL is now the most popular sport in America, with baseball coming in second. In a recent poll by ESPN’s SportsNation, football was the most popular sport, bringing in more than 28% of the first place votes. While baseball had 19% of the first place votes, the second highest amount, it finished in 5th place out of 12 sports, also finishing behind college football, college basketball and the NBA.

I remember this last October watching the final game of the World Series. The game fell on a Sunday and I was switching back and forth between the game and a regular season NFL game. I later looked up on the internet the ratings of both contests. The NFL regular season game had 16.7 million viewers, compared to the 15.5 million viewers of the championship game in baseball.

There are a few reasons why I think baseball has lost its pedestal. The pace of the game, low scoring and unwavering from tradition.

“I think, because it’s a slower sport, and people like more fast, hard-hitting stuff, football gained popularity and kind of took over baseball,” said freshman Cameron Erickson, a lifelong San Francisco Giants fan. "So, I guess baseball fans went to football, which lost baseball’s popularity a little bit. It’s not as violent, I guess you could say, like something like football and nowadays people like violence and action.”

There is no time limit in a baseball game. Players are slow to get to the plate and can take time if they need it. A string of foul balls can prolong any at-bat. After every half inning, the players switch from the field to batting, which takes time for players to get into the dugout and the others to get out onto the field. A lot of this can go with the lack of patience that has become more prevalent in society.

Secondly, baseball is often a low scoring affair. I have watched games that end with the score being 1-0. Some of these games even have to go into extra innings to get that run. For many, it is hard to get excited about lousy hitting and great defense, unless the pitcher is working on a perfect game. We want the touchdown, the slam dunk, the homerun. Even the interception, especially if it is returned for a touchdown. With baseball, if you get a hit three times out of 10, you are considered a great hitter.

The last reason, and perhaps the biggest reason that baseball has fallen from the top spot is its unwillingness to change from tradition. With the world continually moving forward, baseball has stood relatively still over the course of the past century and a half. With video technology, baseball is unwilling to use instant replay, unless they are determining if a ball was a home run. While most would not want a computer to call balls and strikes, more effort could be done to bring baseball up to speed with other sports and reduce errors in officiating.

Notwithstanding all of these factors, baseball is still a fantastic sport that requires a lot of skill to execute at a high level. There is a rich tradition and, with some patience, it can be thoroughly enjoyed by many more fans. It is also part of our country's image, part of our history. Here are some tips from baseball fans on how to better enjoy baseball.

Try going to a park," said sophomore Kyle McDermott. "Go watch the Ogden Raptors, because when you are actually there it is a totally different thing than just watching on T.V."

"I would encourage people to study the game, to really understand it," said Erickson. "Then they can see the beauty behind it and why it’s America’s pastime."

Baseball is ingrained in the American culture, and as you participate in it, it can be ingrained back into the heart of American again. Then, when you hear that iconic song, you can say with gusto, "I don't care if I never get back."

NFL free agency brings surprise deals

By Marcus Jensen

Mike Wallace was the first big deal, but not the most surprising

This week the NFL kicked off free agency. Every year begins with the signing of the quote “big names”, with teams doling out huge money to the players they believe will have an immediate impact on their new teams. Other teams try to make deals to bring in players through trades.

This year, there have been a few surprises that may have left people scratching their heads, and for at least one of them, wishing they had done more.

The biggest surprise in the first week of free agency is the Broncos signing of Wes Welker. Quarterback Tom Brady signed an extension with the Patriots this offseason that was for less money than he would warrant on the open market, with the intent of giving New England the opportunity to bring in players that could keep the team in championship contention. The Patriots gave Welker a low offer, and he sought deals elsewhere, finding a good deal to catch passes from Peyton Manning.

Wes Welker agrees with Broncos

Welker will be hard to replace, having caught 672 passes for 7459 yards and 37 touchdowns in his six years with New England. Welker was the favorite target of Brady, averaging 112 catches a year and over 1200 yards, while also handling kick returns. The Patriots responded to this departure by signing former St. Louis Ram Danny Amendola to a five-year, $31 million deal a few hours after Welker’s departure. It is yet to be seen if New England will regret this decision.

The biggest trade of the week goes to the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle traded a first round and a seventh round pick in the 2013 draft, plus an additional pick next year, to bring in Percy Harvin from the Minnesota Vikings. Harvin in turn signed a six-year, $67 million dollar deal with the Seahawks. Harvin brings versatility and a multiple threat ability to the already dangerous Seattle team that was one down away from going to the NFC championship game last season.

Percy Harvin to Seattle official

Other notable trades and acquisitions: The Kansas City Chiefs traded a second round pick in the upcoming draft, plus an additional pick in the 2014 draft, to obtain Alex Smith. Smith was the starter for the San Francisco 49ers for six and a half seasons, until he was put on the bench in favor of Colin Kaepernick late in the season. The former University of Utah quarterback will join new head coach Andy Reid and the revamped Chiefs and has been named the starter.

Chiefs to get Smith

The biggest loser of this week has to be the reigning Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. After signing quarterback Joe Flacco to a six-year deal worth $120.6 million, the Ravens haven’t had enough money to keep other valuable pieces. Wide receiver Anquan Boldin was traded to the 49ers, while linebackers Paul Kruger and Dannell Ellerbe signed new deals with other teams. All this with the fact that future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis is retiring, and Ed Reed, their staple at Safety, is also in free agent talks. Things are not looking up for the defending champs.

NFL free agency: Dolphins gain, Ravens lose

With all of these deals, plus many other notable deals, the NFL landscape has changed in just the past few days. This year has seen a number of surprise deals, ones that will probably have an effect on the league for years to come.

As the most aggressive week of the NFL year comes to a close, sights are now set on the NFL draft. In 41 days, teams will be looking to find the next stars of the game, and fill roster holes that haven’t been filled in free agency.

With all of these moves, and more on the way, this year should be a great one in the NFL, as always.

All the information from these deals came from espn.go.com/nfl

What We Learned This NFL Season

As much as it pains me to see, this year of football has come to an end. Every year is tough to see end, especially if your team didn't win the Super Bowl, or even play in it. But it is inevitable, and necessary for the new season to start. This season was chalk full of surprises, and we have been taught a few things.

1) We learned that the referees make a huge difference in the game. As we saw through the first three weeks of the season, the replacement referees didn't know what they were doing, and games suffered for it. Teams and fans were frustrated. It all culminated with the week 3 Monday Night Football fiasco, with the "Fail Mary" or "Inaccurate Reception", whatever you choose to call it. I am a Packer fan, so this game got me especially steamed. As much as I hated the decision, I am glad that the result was getting the regular refs back, and for football returning back to normal.

2) We learned that a coach can literally make or break a team. The previous year the Saints went 13-3, advancing to the divisional round of the playoffs. This season, amid the Bounty scandal, the Saints began the season 0-4 under interim interim head coach Aaron Kromer. They finished the season 7-9, not even making the playoffs. This was the first time since winning the Super Bowl that the Saints were not in the playoffs. Sean Payton is a vital role in the Saints' success, and we saw that plainly this season.

3) We learned that you can come back even stronger from an ACL injury, at least Adrian Peterson can. For most players, an ACL injury either means the end of their career, or at least the end of their dominance in the league. Adrian Peterson was just nine yards shy of breaking the all-time single season record for yards rushing, coming off a torn ACL and MCL and having surgery just 8 months earlier. That is incredible, and not surprisingly, it earned AP the MVP award for the 2012 season.

4) Rookies can not only come in and have a good year, they can come in and have an immediate impact on their team. This year, 3 teams with rookie quarterbacks made the playoffs. The Indianapolis Colts, who drafted Andrew Luck as the #1 pick of the draft after going just 2-14 last year, won 10 games and made it to the Wildcard round of the playoffs, eventually losing to the Champion Ravens. Luck set the record for most passing yards in a season by a rookie, and he changed the entire outlook of the Colts organization. Robert Griffin III came in as the #2 pick of the draft, and lifted the Redskins from a 5-11 record to a 10-6 record, winning seven straight games, and winning the division. Russell Wilson, who was drafted in the third round, brought a team from a 7-9 record, to an 11-5 record, just a half game back of the 49ers in the division, plus he won his playoff duel against RGIII. Wilson also tied the single season record for most touchdowns by a rookie in a season with 26, tying him with Peyton Manning.

5) We learned that mobile quarterbacks are most likely the future of the NFL. This season with RGIII and Wilson leading the way, teams are seeing just how dangerous a running type quarterback can be, especially if he can also throw the ball as well. RGIII set the single season rushing record for a QB with 815 yards, breaking the record set just one year earlier by Cam Newton.

6) College offensive schemes can work in the NFL, to an extent. We saw the read-option route work to shred defenses all over the league. With RGIII and Kaepernick, these offenses fooled opponents and caused teams to overcompensate for the quarterback, which also opened up the run game for both of these teams, as well as the Seahawks. These types of offenses were thought not to be able to work in the NFL, but defenses had a hard time stopping these read plays, and the teams that used these types of plays had great success. Now it’s the NFL's job to come up with a way to stop these offenses.

Overall, this was a memorable year all around the NFL. There were good games, there were great games. The game is more exciting than ever, and I can't wait the 207 days until kickoff.