You may be right...
...The current CBA ends after the 2020 season, and you can rest assured the NFLPA is going to make a huge push to either have him removed, or his powers severely curbed before they sign another contract. They will push this issue to it's limit.
Goodell probably thinks he is untouchable and can do anything he wants. There is a danger in that thinking. If he is not careful and players decide they have had enough, why wait for 2020? All players have to do is strike or walk out and then where does all that money the league was making hand over fist go? Just saying.
Seattle? I believe their OL will be better than most people think. After acquiring J Webb (last Marchish) and J Evans (recently), I'm not sure either of those are going to make the squad, especially Webb. Partly due to improved play of the others, but also lack of conditioning by Webb. Or they might become high priced backups. Moving Britt to Center has made a big difference in his play. On runs, Britt reminds me of Steve Hutchinson by mauling DTs 5-10 yards downfield or sealing off. The other 4 OL positions are also still a work in progress, but overall they are much improved. Guards Glowinski and rookie Ifedi look really solid, and along with C Britt are doing a job. Tackles Sowell and Gilliam look okay, but they have not been tested by speed rushers yet. In preseason though, clearly the biggest downfall to the starting offense has been Wilson, who has struggled getting the ball out of his hands quickly. Most believe someone will correct that problem. Carroll as of today has publicly announced that as an issue (Wilson knows). WR and TE positions will not be much of an issue. Lockett is already looking like the next go-to guy to go with Baldwin. And as much as I liked Lynch, his retirement will make the RB play better. Lynch was a load, but Michael (so far in preseason) and Rawls (based on last season) are both much more explosive. And Michael seems to have learned his lesson that the NFL is a 12 month job and that you have to protect the rock at all cost. Rawls YPC last season after Lynch was hurt was a whopping 5.6, and Michael is averaging about 5.5 this preseason. Neither needs much of a crease to pop it.
Defensively they are deep in the secondary. It was all a buzz in the offseason when SEA started by inking Lane. But some of the better play has come from CB-SS Shead (who never seems to make a mistake or be out of position at either position) and SS McCray. They go 6'-3", 6'-2", though not quite as heavy as Chancellor. Then they have another popper in rookie Tyvis Powell (6'-3" 211LB former Buckeye), who has already won a ST roster spot in my heart with his decleating hits. And 6'-3" CB Tharold Simon just may be the next Sherman if he can stay healthy. At DT and DE they are deep and will be fine, even without an interior DT like Suh. Last night the DT rotation of Clark, rookie Reed, and McDaniel were tough. McDaniel (signed this week and former Super Bowl teammate returning home) won a roster spot already IMO. Their thinnest position is LB, where the biggest job up for grabs is the SAM. They lost last year's SAM (Irvin) to Oakland. But the SAM really does not have to do much in this defense: #1) turn the play inside where your teammates help is coming from and don't let them get outside, 2) cover short routes. Last year Irvin did well at #1, but sucked at #2. So what did incumbant Morgan do last night? Turn the runs inside, not let them outside. Coverage wise, he's quicker than Irvin was.
SEA's starting defensive unit is tough to gauge right now though. Through their first two preseason games, the SEA starters have yet to run a blitz. That makes it easier for offenses to move the ball down the field. So, SEA defensively is not showing their cards, Chancellor has not even played yet. That's preseason ball for you. And that's why I could not say above that the SEA OL are playing like a bunch of pro bowlers. If this was mid-season and SEA OL was playing like this then they would be a bunch of pro bowlers.
ST is too early to say much because SEA likes using starters on those squads. But I will say this. SEA let long snapper Clint Gresham go in the offseason. So? Nobody knows who Gresham was because all his snaps were consistently spot on, and well, he was a LS. This new guy SEA picked up tosses mole-rapers. Often. Gotta fix that.
All that said, I agree the biggest challenge in the division will come from the Cards. It will be interesting to see how Britt and the Guards do vs Nkimdiche. And Donald for the Rams. Oh, and Rams always seem to give SEA a stiff challenge. Like a dog fight.
In AFC, agree on your assessment of NE, PIT, CIN, DEN, KC, OAK, but meh on BAL. Besides a OAK resurgence I'd like to see CLE drop bombs on CIN, PIT, & BAL with a healthy RGIII. Why? They are due, and I like LT Joe Thomas. Even if I also like the Red Rocket in Cincy.
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