Steve Serby

Steve Serby

NFL

22 things the NFL preseason has taught us … so far

Now that we are approaching preseason halftime — the period when we are approximately halfway between the opening of NFL training camps and the regular season — we figured this would be the right time to call a timeout and assess how the league looks:

1. Johnny Football isn’t only Johnny Cleveland, he is Johnny NFL. The Browns-Lions game Saturday night was watched by an average of 2.82 million viewers — the most-watched preseason game in the 11 seasons of televising them on NFL Network — thanks to Manziel.

Poor Brian Hoyer — Ohio kid, soon to lose his dream job as LeBron James roots against him. But Johnny Football will be watching Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady in the AFC Championship Game with the rest of us, assuming he isn’t guzzling champagne on an inflatable swan somewhere.

2. When he was nearing his 71st birthday last summer, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones crowed that a CAT scan revealed he had the brain of a 40-year-old. Those recent racy photos with strippers seem to indicate he might actually have the brain of an 18-year-old. America’s Owner has enough to worry about with a stripped bare defense and Tony Romo’s surgical back.

3. It’s hard to believe Tom Coughlin will turn 68 at the end of the month. Pop Pop hasn’t lost his fastball.

4. The sooner Romeo Crennel recognizes OLB Jadeveon Clowney isn’t cut out for dropping into coverage, the better. He won’t need Lawrence Taylor to remind him either.

5. Saints rookie WR Brandin Cooks is making Sean Payton and the Saints forget Darren Sproles. A quartet of other rookie wideouts — Sammy Watkins (Bills), Kelvin Benjamin (Panthers), Jordan Matthews (Eagles) and Marvin Harrison clone John Brown (Cardinals) — has the fantasy-football cult buzzing.

6. John Idzik’s plan of sustainable success is admirable — but when exactly is the success supposed to begin? Jerry Reese executed that same plan of sustainable success far more aggressively in the offseason. Idzik’s reluctance to go to the corner store — not renting Darrelle Revis and bracing for further renegotiations was the right move, by the way — suggests that the desperation and urgency to win now is more of a priority in East Rutherford, not to mention in Foxborough and Denver. Reese hit the jackpot with RB Rashad Jennings.

7. Doesn’t Jon Bon Jovi realize if he receives clearance to buy the Bills, he can kiss his friendship with Bill Belichick goodbye?

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8. The early reviews are positive on the Rams’ Michael Sam — from Michael Sam. The NFL’s first openly gay player is a tweener defensive end-linebacker type with pedestrian athleticism, which means he may very well get his wish of being treated solely as a football player, and may not like it.

9. Justin Tuck looks weird in Silver & Black.

10. It’s nice that the Falcons are getting their “Hard Knocks” moment in the sun, but HBO needs Rex Ryan II next summer. Whether he still is coaching the Jets or not.

11. If Eli Manning and Ben McAdoo aren’t panicking, I won’t.

12. Michael Vick has prevented a disruptive full-blown quarterback controversy by deferring to Geno Smith, and raving about Geno Smith, even going as far as pooh-poohing the benefits of the wildcat. But Vick can sling it, all right, and he still can scare the daylights out of defensive coordinators with his 34-year-old legs. The over-under on Vick seizing the starting job? Week 6.

13. Mark Sanchez, one year removed from the Snoopy Bowl, is healthy and invigorated as Nick Foles’ backup. If anyone needed a change of scenery, it was the artist formerly known as Sanchize.

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14. The “point of emphasis” on illegal contact and defensive holding by the zebras needs to calm down, because religious enforcement will a) slow the games down and b) drive players and coaches to distraction with inconsistent calls.

15. Doug Marrone needs to do himself a favor and stop being so cranky with the Buffalo media.

16. Richie Incognito remains incognito. For now.

17. A crying shame about the forced retirements of Giants Chris Snee and David Wilson. Especially Wilson, who lasted two just NFL seasons. Snee at least played 10 seasons and won two Super Bowls.

18. What? Ray Rice only got two games?

19. Smart move by the Dolphins hiring Mike Tannenbaum as consultant. He knows a tad about the AFC East. By the way, rookie Fish DE Terrence Fede is putting Marist College on the map.

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20. Rookie running backs opening eyes: Carlos Hyde (49ers), Dri Archer (Steelers), Andre Williams (Giants), De’Anthony Thomas (Chiefs), Terrance West (Browns), Bishop Sankey (Titans), Devonta Freeman (Falcons) and Jeremy Hill (Bengals).

21. Andy Dalton (six years, $115 million) will be under as much pressure as any QB considering he has yet to win a playoff game.

22. Robert Griffin III seems to like new coach Jay Gruden better than he did Mike Shanahan.