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| Phil Coale / Associated Press |
| Plaxico Burress, Brett Favre and Brandon Marshall will keep many from vacations this offseason. |
Most NFL teams enter offseason hibernation this week.
They shut down non-contact workouts, meetings and other football-related activity until the start of training camp next month.
For the next six weeks or so, it's nothing but rest and relaxation until the pads pop.
Analyst Bucky Brooks says that with or without Plaxico Burress, new Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski is set to unveil a dynamic offense anchored by a downhill running game and a big-play aerial attack. More ... But should it be?
True, for the past three and a half months, clubs have been operating at a fairly brisk pace. Incumbent coaches and new coaches alike have been busy installing game plans and putting players through their paces in preparation for September.
Still, there is clearly some work that needs to be done -- work that shouldn't be left undone for such a long stretch.
There are some NFL executives, general managers, coaches and players who shouldn't be taking a vacation. And if they do, they should be certain to have a cell phone and laptop close by.
Here's a top 10 list of people around the league who can least afford a vacation:
1. Owner Zygi Wilf, coach Brad Childress and the rest of the Minnesota Vikings' brain trust
The Vikings need to be diligent about their research into whether it makes sense to sign Brett Favre. Not only must they be convinced he can fully recover from surgery on his throwing shoulder by the start of the season, but they also have to figure out if he's worth the asking price that would be upwards of $14 million. For that matter, Favre, despite being "retired," needs to invest plenty of time in the next six weeks to determine if he's physically and mentally ready for another comeback. Of course, that's just sticking with his daily offseason routine, isn't it?
2. GMs of teams interested in signing Plaxico Burress
This one is extremely tricky. With legal proceedings on Burress' felony gun charges delayed until Sept. 23, a club could be tempted to try and sign the free-agent wide receiver in hopes of having him play in the coming season. However, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell could very well decide to suspend Burress as part of the league's player-conduct policy before the next hearing. Any team that might want to acquire Burress (the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one) will need to do its best to get an indication from Goodell if the former New York Giant and Pittsburgh Steeler is staring the season with a multi-game suspension.
3. Goodell, NFL executive VP of labor/legal counsel Jeff Pash and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith
With talks for a new collective bargaining agreement under way, it's clear that there is a long, difficult road ahead and that both sides need the maximum amount of time to try and get some of the major issues resolved. For now, Smith's insistence that the owners open their financial books looks to have the makings of a mammoth stumbling block.
4. Coach Josh McDaniels and the rest of the Denver Broncos' brain trust
The Broncos' offseason has been one of the busiest in the league -- and it keeps getting busier. The latest item to fill the plate of McDaniels, et al, is Brandon Marshall's trade demand. The Broncos insist that they have no intention of dealing Marshall, who wants a pay raise, and perhaps they'll simply stick to their guns and keep him on the team. But Marshall posted on his website on Tuesday that he met with owner Pat Bowlen and it was mutually concluded that it would be best for the two sides to part ways. Nevertheless, the Broncos owe it to themselves to remain open to the possibility of a team making an exceptional offer for a game-breaking talent. On top of that, Denver's coaches have to find the time for the difficult conversion from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 scheme.
5. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers and the rest of the Green Bay Packers' defensive coaches
Like the Broncos, the Packers are making the difficult conversion from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 scheme. Although the Packers' final minicamp is scheduled for June 23-25, it's hard to imagine that they won't be giving the switch some additional thought and even a little meeting time before training camp.
6. Oakland Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell
All signs point to him being pushed hard this summer by veteran backup Jeff Garcia. Russell needs to be ready for the challenge or he could very well find himself on the bench. The Raiders' coaching staff also will be trying to figure out the best way to utilize newly acquired Greg Ellis. Ellis can play outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme or defensive end in a 4-3. At this stage of his career, he seems to be a better fit in the 3-4, the alignment in which he played in Dallas. But the Raiders are a 4-3 team, so they'll have to figure out the best way for Ellis and incumbent end Derrick Burgess to complement each other as pass rushers -- provided they don’t end up trading Burgess.
7. Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo
Even if, as Romo insists, reports that Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett recently challenged him to get in better shape are not true, it still wouldn't be such a bad idea for Romo to do all he can to make sure he goes to camp in the best possible condition. An argument could be made that Romo has experienced late-season fades because he hasn't had the stamina to perform at an optimum level through December and beyond. Also, now the Cowboys are, more than ever, Romo's team. The distraction of Terrell Owens is gone. Romo must step forward as the primary leader not only with what he says, but also with what he does and how he does it.
8. Cleveland Browns QBs Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson
Neither one did a whole lot during offseason workouts to make a convincing case to win the starting job. It wouldn't seem wise for either to kick back and relax until training camp starts. Quinn has told reporters he is planning to attend a workout camp at an undisclosed location that will provide intense training twice and even three times per day. Somewhere along the line, Quinn and Anderson need to focus on throwing with greater accuracy on a more consistent basis than they did during minicamps and other team drills this offseason.
9. Arizona Cardinals GM Rod Graves
The Cardinals have three key players who are upset with their contracts -- wide receiver Anquan Boldin, defensive end Darnell Dockett and outside linebacker Bertrand Berry. To no one's surprise, Boldin and Dockett skipped voluntary workouts in protest. But team officials were shocked that Berry also chose to avoid the sessions. Berry had tested free-agent waters, and when he didn't receive an offer to his liking, he settled for a one-year deal worth $1 million. The Cards have long looked to the veteran as a good example for younger players on the team. To make another Super Bowl run, they'll need solid contributions from all three players. Chances are, Graves is not going to have a whole lot of quiet time as long as any or all three continue to simmer.
10. Defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil and the rest of the Tennessee Titans' defensive coaches
You don't lose a dominant force like Albert Haynesworth, who signed with the Washington Redskins, and proceed with business as usual. The Titans face an enormous challenge in figuring out how to replace him. For now, all they have are a couple of candidates -- free agent Jovan Haye and second-round draft pick Sen'Derrick Marks. So far, no one is pointing to either player and saying, "Here's the new Albert Haynesworth." Haynesworth is a one-of-a-kind talent and it will likely take the combined efforts of Haye and Marks, along with a big season from second-year man Jason Jones, to come anywhere close to filling the mammoth gap in the middle of Tennessee's defense. Count on the defensive coaches, along with Jeff Fisher, to spend some extra time pondering how to also enhance the defensive line through scheming.
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