NFL Players Whose Career's are Facing a Crossroads Going into the 2013
By Loot, NFL Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
Alex Smith: Sure, he’s joining a Kansas City team that is coming off a 2-14 season, so what could the Chiefs possibly expect? Still, it’s obvious the Chiefs are in serious rebuilding mode and if Alex Smith is going to be a part of that, he better hit the ground running. Forced to be a prudent facilitator in San Francisco, expect new head coach Andy Reid to turn Smith loose more in Kansas City. Whether he can thrive in that role remains to be seen.
Nnamdi Asomugha: It doesn’t seem like that long ago when Asomugha was the most coveted free agent in the offseason--one of the few true shutdown corners in the league. He went from that to a guy who signed a 1-year deal in 2013. In his two years in Philadelphia, the only time you ever heard his name when he was getting toasted by opposing receivers. Perhaps it was the zone defense the Eagles had or after a decade in the league, the 32-year old Asomugha has simply declined. In San Francisco, his style figures to be better-suited. Playing for the preseason Super Bowl favorite, however, the leash won’t be long and if Asomugha still has it--he better show it quickly.
Steven Jackson: When a guy talks retirement like Jackson did last season, you have to wonder. Will he be rejuvenated playing for a highly-probable winning team or has he already begun to check out mentally? While he’ll be the top back in Atlanta, he won’t be relied on as heavily as he was in St. Louis.
Dwayne Bowe: It’s not like he completely fell off the map, but the stellar play of a few years ago was not present in 2012. Playing on a 2-14 team doesn’t help and he still had 801 yards receiving. But this year, the stakes go up and with the Chiefs trying to raise their profile, Bowe needs to re-establish himself as one of the conference’s top receiving threats.
Darren McFadden: Is he the goods or not? For a running back in his 6th season, we should know by now. Injuries have slowed McFadden, making a full appraisal tough. At the same time, either you can play or you can’t. And despite enormous potential, he has really only put together one good season. Facing a contract year and still only 25, McFadden will have the opportunity to show what he has this year, but if things don’t work out, it’s going to be a long way back.
Michael Vick: The crossroads season may have been last season and it didn’t work out. Assuming he gets the nod over Nick Foles, this is Vick’s last chance. Coming off a 3-7 record as a starter last season, the 33-year old Vick needs to find another gear under new coach Chip Kelly and establish some positive momentum or it may be curtains.
Reggie Bush: Bush’s career has been up-and-down, but he seems to have the injury jinx conquered and after gaining over 2000 yards the past two seasons, hopes are high. Bush now finds himself in Detroit and is expected to be productive. Able to rebuild his career under a cloak of low expectations in Miami, how will Bush fare now that the spotlight in back on him? Will he give Detroit the run dimension they need and catch a bunch of passes out of the backfield? Or will he be an injury-plagued disappointment? Time will tell.
Greg Jennings: Coming off injuries, can the wide receiver do in Minnesota what he did in Green Bay? From 2008 to 2010, Jennings had over 3600 yards receiving. Aaron Rodgers developed some different options over the past few seasons and Jennings’ role became less-vital to the Green Bay passing attack. He’s going to be the number-one guy in Minnesota now. It’s just that he will now be in the run-heavy Vikings offense, catching balls thrown by Christian Ponder instead of the most prolific passer in NFL.
Wes Welker: Crossroads? The guy has caught at least 100 balls in 5 of the last 6 seasons for crying out loud. While no one will dispute Welker’s standing as one of the most prolific ball-catchers in modern NFL history, can he do it as a member of the Denver Broncos? With Patriots defectors, you always have to wonder if their eye-popping stats were a product of their individual excellence, a product of the system, or a little bit of both. There’s no reason to not expect Welker to click well with Peyton Manning, but he is 32. This season will be pivotal in determining if Welker remains among the division’s best or if he begins the eventual descent that awaits even the greatest of players.
