Veterans with something to prove this season
In all this talk about young, upcoming talent heading into the NFL season and established stars, we’re bound to forget some veterans fighting for their NFL lives. There are several veterans heading into the 2010 season with a chip on their shoulders, trying to prove the doubters wrong. These veterans are trying to show that while their best days may be behind them, they can still play at a high level in the NFL.
Certainly no player fits this description more than LaDainian Tomlinson. He may be the best running back of the decade but his production has dropped. He was released by the San Diego Chargers this off-season, the team that drafted him and where he played for nine seasons.
Tomlinson has been on the decline the last couple of years ever since he set the record for rushing touchdowns in a season. After a career year in 2006 in which he rushed for 1,815 yards and an NFL record 29 touchdowns, Tomlinson’s numbers have steadily dropped. In 2007, he still rushed for 1,474 yards and 15 touchdowns and in 2008 he rushed for 1,110 yards and 11 touchdowns. The real signs of him slowing down came last season when he failed to rush for 1000 yards for the first time in his career with 730. His yards/carry average was also a career-low at 3.3.
Running backs careers are short and at 30 years old, Tomlinson has a chance at a fresh start with the New York Jets who appear to be strong playoff contenders. Tomlinson wants to prove his doubters wrong and prove to his former team that he has plenty of greatness left in him.
Opinions seem to be mixed about Terrell Owens. Owens has put up Hall-of-Fame numbers in his career but has gotten a reputation for being a locker-room cancer. He has spent his career with the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and the Buffalo Bills. He now joins his buddy Chad Ochocinco in Cincinnati.
The Bengals signed him to a one-year $2.5 million contract plus incentives. This means Owens will have to show what he can do and will also have financial motivation to produce. Many are writing off the 36-year-old receiver, but the fact is with Carson Palmer, Owens has a chance to prove himself again. His career numbers prove how good he is with 1006 receptions, 14,951 yards and 144 touchdowns. Many deemed him to be done last year after a sub-standard season with the Bills. He caught 55 passes for 829 yards and five touchdowns.
The question is how he will he be able to produce with an equally large personality alongside him in Ochocinco. Both players want to have balls thrown at them and they’re bound to complain if they don’t get their way. Owens wants to prove that he has matured and he’s not the problem child he’s been made out to be. If he helps the Bengals and maintains a good attitude, then he’ll have proven himself to the world. Owens’ goal at this stage is primarily to win a championship as he’s put up all the numbers. If he does help the Bengals to the Super Bowl then it will be time for critics to forget about his past and acknowledge his true value to a team.
Jake Delhomme seemed to have total confidence from the Carolina Panthers when he was signed to a long-term extension last year. How quickly things change. After perhaps the worst season of his career, in which he threw 18 interceptions in 11 games and was 4-7 as a starter, the Panthers released him. Delhomme signed with the Cleveland Browns while the Panthers went with a young Matt Moore at quarterback. Moore was 4-1 as the Panthers’ starter.
Delhomme will get a chance to prove himself this year playing for a franchise that has longed for a franchise quarterback. At 34 years old, Delhomme is not the long-term solution in Cleveland but he has proven that he can be successful in this league.
Delhomme led the Panthers to the playoffs three times in seven seasons. He also led the Panthers to two NFC Championships and led them to Super Bowl XXXVIII where they barely lost to New England. Delhomme led the Panthers to a franchise-best 12-4 record in 2008 but his career has gone downhill from there.
Delhomme now joins a team that will see him as an upgrade. If he leads the Browns to any level of success, he will be viewed as a hero and prove that he can still be great.
It will be a very interesting season. It will either be the revival of careers or it may be the final hurrah for aging veterans around the league. Other notables are Joey Galloway, Matt Hasselbeck and Larry Johnson. The NFL can be ruthless to underperforming veterans and these players won’t get many more chances before it’s too late.
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