Ten Thoughts on the NFL

1) The Philadelphia Eagles, who just ended phase one of their offseason workout program, had their attendance increase by one yesterday. Quarterback Sam Bradford ended his little mini-pout session and reported to work.

Bradford tried to force a trade after the Eagles picked QB Carson Wentz with the 2nd overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, but there just were't that many takers for a guy with $22 million guaranteed the next two years, a career 81 passer rating, and a guy that has never played on a winning team in his five year career.

2) I liked what the Minnesota Vikings did in the draft and now their Pro Bowl running back, is talking Super Bowl. "We are going to have a good chance to win it this year, win everything," Peterson told The MMQB's Peter King. "Sit back and watch. Sit back and watch. You can be like, 'I thought you guys were at least a couple of years away.' Nope. You sit back and watch, this year."

The Vikes, under head coach Mike Zimmer, went from 7-9 in 2014 to 11-5 and the NFC North Title last year. Would a Super Bowl really be that far fetched an idea?

3) ESPN dumped Cris Carter and Ray Lewis.

There are plenty of fall guy jokes to go around on this one.

4) When I coached I was so annoyed by the "Walk-through Warriors" or the "Saturday All-Stars." You know the kids that are going 100 miles per hour when everyone else was just walking through the walk-through.

Arizona Cardinals' rookie defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche went a little overboard.

"He was killing people in walk-through," (Head Coach Bruce) Arians said, via the Arizona Republic. "I had to slow him down. It's a walk-through, and he bench-pressed a lineman already."

I'm sure Arians hammed it up for the media, I doubt Nkemdiche actually threw a teammate around, but if he did, that's the kind of reckless play that can get others hurt. This story would have had a very differenty spin had the bench pressed lineman tore an ACL.

5) The Dallas Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliot is the odds on favorite to win Rookie of the Year. Bovada has the running back at 2/1, with L.A. Rams' QB Jared Goff at 2.5/1.

I think if he stays healthy, Elliot not only has a legit shot at the rookie award, I think he has a chance to lead the league in yards from scrimmage.

6) As someone that enjoys cooking and especially eating, I have a certain level of respect for different types of cuisines. I would love to one day partake in the best different regions have to offer. A bowl of New England Clam Chowder from fresh off the boat in Maine. Some authentic Kansas City barbecue from a local pit-master. A tasty Maryland Crab Cake from Baltimore. A legit Philadelphia Cheese-steak from downtown Philly and a spicy Buffalo Wing from Buffalo, New York.

Buffalo Bills' rookie Eric Striker must not be a food connoisseur. "I've tasted a great chicken wing ... how much better could it be here?" Striker remarked to the Buffalo media, "I mean, what else can you do to a chicken wing?"

Here's a tip for Striker, embrace your new city. Be more like the Chicago Bears' Leonard Floyd.

Leonard Floyd is fitting in already, approving of @LouMalnatis deep-dish pizza: https://t.co/rJNouMlKnb#BearsTalk pic.twitter.com/5LT3DRaWBC

— Comcast SportsNet (@CSNChicago) April 30, 2016

7) The New England Patriots' trade of former Bear Jon Bostic to the Detroit Lions for a conditional 7th round pick sure seems to have drummed up quite a bit of media coverage. My Twitter and Facebook feed had various news outlets sharing stories and NFL.com has a prominent front page picture and article (Moving to Motown) about the deal. Is it because it's a New England thing?

After being traded by the Bears last year to the Pats for a 6th round pick, Bostic appeared in 11 games, making one start at linebacker. His statistical grand total last year was 1 assisted tackle and 1 quarterback hit while on defense and 1 special teams tackle.

I'm now questioning why I bothered to use one on my Ten Thoughts on a guy that may not even make the Lions.

Sorry guys...

8) James Brady of SB Nation is reminding us of the three first round picks from the 2015 Draft class that missed their rookie years due to an injury. The Chicago Bears' Kevin White, the Jacksonville Jaguars' Dante Fowler and the Baltimore Ravens' Breshad Perriman are all being looked to for a big impact in 2016.

The Bears could really use a boost to their offense after trading Martellus Bennett and allowing Matt Forte to walk as a free agent.

Enter White.

Brady said this of White;

White was considered one of the better receiver prospects in a very long time last season. He and Amari Cooper were the top prospects at the position. The Bears arguably have the best rookie receiver in the NFL, if you consider White a rookie since he's only had a negligible amount of professional experience.

Early offseason reports have White in even better shape than he was when he was an athletic freak coming out of West Virginia.

9) I talked about the talent the Jags added in the 2016 Draft in last weeks Ten Thought's, and it completely slipped my mind that they also had 3rd overall pick Fowler coming back after his ACL injury. If all Fowler is able to do in 2016 is rush the passer, that's still a big boost to their defense.

10) NFL.com is looking at teams that "won" the offseason, and handing out some Roster Reconstruction Awards for 2016. Even though one publication felt the Bears' offseason was really meh, Chris Wesseling, Around the NFL Writer, named John Fox and Vic Fangio as the Happiest Defensive Coaches.

General manager Ryan Pace has done a commendable job of refashioning the roster to suit Fangio's 3-4 scheme after years in the 4-3 alignment under ex-coach Lovie Smith and former defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. The revamped front seven started last year, with the successful signing of disruptive edge rusher Pernell McPhee and the drafting of nose tackle Eddie Goldman. Pace then addressed inside linebacker in free agency, landing major upgrades in Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman. The overhaul was complete when the Bears traded up for outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, and drafted defensive end Jonathan Bullard and inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski in the third and fourth rounds, respectively.

Fangio got the most out of the limited talent at his disposal last season. Now his front seven can compete with any in the division.

That last sentence is interesting. Do you guys see the Bears' D making that big a jump in play? On paper, I think Fangio has some interesting pieces, but we'll have to see how they all gel.

What are some of your NFL Thoughts this week?