(Los Angeles) From the Buccaneers of the fake retiree Tom Brady, to the Bills, via the Chiefs, the candidates will not fail to dethrone the Los Angeles Rams, winners of the last Super Bowl, after a very lively offseason in the NFL, between transfers exorbitant and extra-sporting scandals.
Posted at 10:02
After the elimination of Tampa Bay in the playoffs, the legendary Tom Brady announced his retirement in early February… before reconsidering his decision six weeks later, believing he had “a job to finish” within the Bucs, franchise with which he won his 7e Super Bowl in 2021. The previous six were gleaned with the New England Patriots, his club for two decades.
According to his former coach Bruce Arians, who handed over to Todd Bowles, the stainless quarterback “throws the ball better than ever”, at 45, half of whom spent on NFL grounds, in king sport in the USA. An exit aimed at reassuring fans, after Brady, considered the best player in the history of American football, left the team’s preparation camp for eleven days, for “personal reasons”.
The superstar has since joined his teammates and assured to be “ready” for the first game, Sunday at the Dallas Cowboys. “I have a lot to prove this year. I’m here to show that I’m still capable of leading a team to a title. »
The year of the Bills?
On Thursday, the defending champion Rams will open the season at home in LA against Buffalo, one of the most serious contenders for their succession, which will be played in Phoenix on February 12, for the 57e edition of the Super Bowl.
Los Angeles, which aims to become the first team to retain the Super Bowl in 18 years, will be able to count on its quarterback Matthew Stafford, freed from his elbow injury, which often bothered him last season, without however l prevent you from doing well in the final.
The Bills (four finals lost) would see themselves launching their campaign with a victory, which would have the value of a message sent to the competition. For the past two seasons, they have dropped to the American Conference Finals and the 2e round of the playoffs, each time facing the Kansas City Chiefs of Patrick Mahomes. Which only strengthens their resolve, according to Josh Allen.
“Guys are hungry,” assured the talented quarterback. The last defeat (42-36, after “sudden death”, a rule giving victory to the first team to score a touchdown in overtime), left us with a bitter taste. »
If they recruited formidable defender Von Miller, two-time champion, the Bills gave up signing a contract with rookie Matt Araiza. A promising kicker, the latter is the subject, along with two former teammates from the University of San Diego, of a civil complaint from a 17-year-old girl, accusing them of having raped her.
dollar rain
The case added to a much bigger scandal for the NFL, which suspended quarterback Deshaun Watson for the first 11 games of the season after allegations of sexual assault by about 20 women. , masseuses by profession.
The star, who then played with the Houston Texans, was ultimately not the subject of criminal proceedings and even signed a five-year, $230 million contract with the Cleveland Browns. He will normally be able to start in his new colors on December 4 in… Houston.
Like this transfer, a rain of greenbacks fell on the NFL during a very lively market, where we will remember that quarterback Russell Wilson signed up with the Denver Broncos to 245 million over seven seasons, or 49 million per year. Barely less than the reigning double MVP, veteran Aaron Rodgers, who will receive 50 from the Green Bay Packers, under his extension for four years and 200 million.
Finally, not a controversy near, the NFL, always more popular and which will again be exported with relocated matches in Munich, Mexico City and London, begins the season by being confronted with legal action launched by three black coaches, including former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores on racial discrimination hiring charges.