By Tyler Krimpelbein, staff writer
The National Football League will have it’s own “continental drift” by the time the 2015-16 season arrives.
There are changes in every roster every year, so what makes this time around any different?
Old faces in new places, loved role models in new towns, and a possible end of a Hall of Fame career.
Coaches like Marc Trestman, Doug Marrone, and John Fox will all see new colors on their hat next year.
Rex Ryan, former coach of the New York Jets, will take his defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman to the AFC East rival Buffalo Bills. Ryan took New York to two AFC championships but failed to ever get back after his first two seasons. Nobody to blame other than the men upstairs who did not put talent on the roster.
Marc Trestman was fired, mostly in part because the Chicago Bears franchise is going in a different direction.
Doug Marrone, the former head coach of the Buffalo Bills, has opted out of his contract in Buffalo, wanting to work elsewhere.
John Fox coached the Denver Broncos through an eventful run with Tim Tebow and then Peyton Manning. Fox had a window of limited time because of the age and health of Manning, but failed to win a Super Bowl. Fox had only three playoff wins.
There will be more than just coaches on the move though. Jay Cutler has a contract worth $126 million over seven years and $54 million is guaranteed. Do the Bears still want Jay Cutler as their leader, after a 5-11 season record?
Robert Griffin “RG3” was the second overall pick a few years back, and new coach Jay Gruden basically gave up on him. So does Griffin go elsewhere? The St. Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers all need quarterbacks.
Carson Palmer could have been the biggest surprise of the season. If he stayed healthy, Palmer was on pace for his best season of his storied career. The Arizona Cardinals were ready to keep him long term and signed him to a 3-year, $50-million extension. But sadly during the game after the signing, he tore his ACL and had to be shut down for the rest of the season.
Quarterback is arguably the most important position is sports. The 2015 NFL draft will feature Jameis Winston of Florida State University, Marcus Mariota of the University of Oregon, and Garret Grayson of Colorado State University.
Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Oakland, and New York (Jets) all need quarterbacks.