Five questions hanging over NFL as preseason gets started

CANTON, Ohio – Football is back. Well, sort of.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game took place on Thursday night, which is traditionally the big tease for the real game of football. At least it is progress. Players (albeit mostly backups) are in uniform, flags are flying and they’re keeping score.

Then you realize that Blaine Gabbert started off eight-for-eight for the Arizona Cardinals and wonder if that is a terrible omen for the rebuilding Dallas Cowboys defense, still trying to recover from a divisional playoff loss to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

Oh, never mind. It’s too early to fret, with all of those vanilla schemes.

Still, the season is upon us. To mark the occasion, some other things to wonder about ...

- If Ryan Tannehill’s knee injury puts him out for an extended period of time, could the Miami Dolphins become the landing spot for Colin Kaepernick? 

As they wait for a second opinion on Tannehill's knee, the Dolphins are in a holding pattern, which is the same way one could describe Kaepernick’s quest to find a new team after sparking a movement last year with his anthem-kneeling social statement. Backup Matt Moore would be the next man up in Miami, so Kaepernick might not be expected to jump into the lineup. Then again, there is also speculation that Dolphins might even try luring Jay Cutler – who played under Miami coach Adam Gase in Chicago – out of the broadcast booth. Go figure.

More:Malcolm Jenkins: NFL owners 'cowards' not to sign Colin Kaepernick

More:Richard Sherman sees Colin Kaepernick saga as 'stay in your place' injustice

- Who has the stomach for five preseason games? 

With the exhibition kickoff game, the Cowboys and Cardinals were awarded the “bonus” of opening training camp a week earlier than other NFL teams and a five-game preseason. With all the talk in recent years about shortening the preseason – which Roger Goodell has said is the No. 1 request from fans – it’s longer for some teams. Of course, the stars sat out on Thursday night. So there was no Larry Fitzgerald, Ezekiel Elliott, Carson Palmer or Dak Prescott. Still, coaches and personnel people love the fifth exhibition, as it allows them more time to evaluate young talent – which has become increasingly difficult in an era with less-physical training camps. And you’ve got to figure a guy like Rico Gathers – the tight end for the Cowboys who spent his rookie season last year on the practice squad while learning the rope after being a college basketball player at Baylor – doesn’t mind the extra reps that come with five preseason games. Gathers, by the way, caught Dallas’ first TD, displaying his desired red zone presence.

- Which new Hall of Famer will show the most emotion?

It’s tradition for established Hall of Famers to take bets – or at least go through the trash-talking motions of such – on which new member of their distinguished club will break down and cry in the shortest amount of time while giving their induction speeches. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, despite being a shrewd businessman, is a candidate. He told me recently that he teared up while going over his speech with his daughter Charlotte. Uh-oh. My money, though, would be on LaDainian Tomlinson. The former San Diego Chargers (and New York Jets) running back played with so much passion. One of my most vivid LT memories came after a playoff loss against the New England Patriots, when a teary-eyed Tomlinson had to be restrained from going after some New England players as they danced and celebrated on the Chargers’ turf. And he was still steaming when he blasted Bill Belichick during his postgame press conference.

- Has the Jon Gruden Watch started early this year? 

The preseason hadn’t even started before the hype meter turned up a few notches on the possible return of Coach Chucky. Surely, when Gruden decides when wants to return – I don’t doubt that he’s indeed preparing for that day – he will head to the top of the short lists as the most coveted coaching prospect. But there’s no rush, and he said this week he doesn't foresee a coaching return "anytime soon." I would be stunned if Gruden is on the market for the next hiring cycle. Will that change when his youngest son graduates from high school? Maybe so. Check back in a couple of years, when Chucky will be bearing down on the ripe age of 55. In other words, nothing’s imminent but he’s still young … with fresh legs.

- Will Anthony Lynn be the most successful new coach in the NFL this season?

The Chargers’ boss is certainly the most under-the-radar neophyte coach. He’s low profile and, at least in dealing with the media, he uses an economy of words. Just don’t think that equates to a lack of presence. Lynn, influenced greatly by Bill Parcells, comes off as a straight shooter who commands respect with his presence. He says he’s a believer in “healthy conflicts.” What’s that? “That’s a politically correct way of getting in somebody’s ass,” Lynn told me. Now if he can inspire his team – armed by the sometimes-prolific Philip Rivers – to finish games, the Chargers might be a surprise team. San Diego lost six games when they blew fourth-quarter leads during the 4-12 finish in 2016. Given the talent inherited, Lynn should have a leg up on the Rams’ Sean McVay as the most successful coach in L.A., but obviously the NFL landscape doesn’t stop there.

Follow Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell.

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