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Ten Thoughts on the NFL

Peep out a few of my NFL Thoughts this week and be sure to drop some of your own in the comment section.

By Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.
Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

1) If you had 2016 down as the year when pro athletes would start to negotiate their contract though rap lyrics, then you win a gold rope chain.

The Pittsburgh Steelers' Le'Veon Bell is trying to get his Hip Hop career of the ground, and in his single he released through Twitter he drops a hint to the Steelers about his next contract demands.

I'm at the top and if not I'm the closest
Ima need 15 a year and they know this.

Seeking $15 million a year would make him the highest paid running back in the NFL, and with his contract set to expire after the 2016 season, he may be in that range. But he'll have to go out and have a tremendous 2016 first. Before he was injured last season, Bell was one of the more productive backs in the league. If he proves that he's the best this year, he'll probably end up paid like it.

2) There are six players available in next weeks supplemental draft, but only one is expected to be picked. Purdue defensive tackle Ra'Zahn Howard is 6'3", 325 pounds and could be a rotational interior guy to play on early downs as a run stuffer. He'll have a pro day later this week and some scouts believe he might go as high as the 5th round,

The other prospects available are Ole Miss CB Tee Shepard, Virginia Tech LS Eddie D'Antuono, Sam Houston State RB Jalen Overstreet, University of Calgary WR Rashaun Simonise and Concordia DE Cameron Walton. If these guys go unpicked, they'll be free agents.

3) In case you missed any of the NFL on Family Feud highlights, SB Nation has you covered right here.

4) Duron Carter, son of NFL Hall Of Famer Cris Carter, has been a CFL All Star in the past, but he hasn't been able to stick on an NFL roster. His latest stunt may ensure he never receives a shot in the NFL again.

That's Carter snagging a TD, then promptly running to the opposing sideline to run down their head coach.

5) Tarvaris Jackson made over $12 million during his 10 year career, but he now claims that he's so broke that he can't afford a lawyer after he was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The judge wasn't buying the broke sob story and Jackson's request for a public defender was denied.

Not to make light of a serious subject, but when Jackson pulled a gun on his wife, she told him that he better be accurate, because he wasn't accurate on the football field. For the record, Jackson was a 59.6% passer during his career.

6) Every team passed on La'el Collins in the NFL Draft last year after he was questioned in the death of a former girlfriend. He wasn't a suspect, but the timing of everything scared off all 32 teams. The Dallas Cowboys ended up signing him as an undrafted free agent and he went on to play in 12 games, with 11 starts. He also had a few highlight reel blocks, including this one.

The "Pancake" block was kind of his thing last year, so it made sense that he'd have some pancake cleats made up.

You just know the other 31 teams are kicking themselves for not taking a 7th round flier on Collins.

7) Whether we like it or not, at some point the NFL will soften its stance on marijuana. It may take years, but with some states already legalizing the recreational and medicinal plant, widespread acceptance will happen at some point. NFL free agent Eugene Monroe is a proponent for marijuana, as is former running back Ricky Williams who is opening a cannabis friendly gym. Ex Bears quarterback Jim McMahon says that marijuana is a much better and safer painkiller than what players are currently taking.

Former Broncos and Cardinals QB Jake Plummer is also outspoken about the NFL's marijuana stance. He's pissed off that the league has far too many players and former players hooked on painkillers. Plummer blames the owners for not allowing players to smoke up when they need to, going as far as calling Dallas' Jerry Jones an asshole.

8) And speaking of painkillers, did you realize that the NFL is in the midst of a painkiller lawsuit. More than 1,500 ex-players say NFL coaches and employees recklessly pushed painkillers on them.

9) The Indianapolis Colts signed Andrew Luck to the biggest deal in NFL history, 5 years, $122,970,000, including $87,000,000 guaranteed. The big deal was expected, he's a young franchise quarterback, and those types of players get all the dollars. The thing I found comical when news of the contract started to come out was the number of excuses that started to trickle out through social media about Luck's propensity to turn the ball over. The reasoning was not only coming from fans, but from members of the media as well.

The excuses for Luck's 55 interceptions and 32 fumbles in his 55 games as a pro were plentiful. His o-line has been bad, his receivers haven't been very good, he was put in a lot of bad situations because Indy's defense hasn't been that good and he's had a lot of tipped balls.

Many of the excuses being bandied about have merit, but I just find it funny that these are the same excuses used for Jay Cutler. And speaking of Cutler, his average salary now places him 16th among all NFL quarterbacks for the 2016 season.

10) While not specifically NFL related, I recently was a guest on an NFC North podcast and the question posed was Pizza or Wings. Since I was representing the Chicago Bears, my answer was an emphatic pizza, but I'm curios where you guys stand, are you Team Pizza or Team Chicken Wing?

I'll put it to a poll to make it all scientific and whatnot.

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