September 03, 2012 | Volume 117, Issue 10

The next time I'm whining about my problems, I hope to remember the inspirational perspectives of Johnathan Taylor and Chance Veazey (Why Ask Why?). These two young men face the possibility of...

There are posh new digs thanks to a free-spending owner, but the building of a contender begins with the second-year quarterback

2011 Record: 5--11

Rashad Jennings

44.5

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and the playmakers who missed 2011 are back with renewed postseason purpose

2011 Record: 7--9

Jon Baldwin

1 in 10

There's a new guy in the saddle—you may have heard a bit about him—and he's sending everyone's confidence mile high

2011 Record: 8--8

Eric Decker

31

The conference's perennial underachievers have a new mantra on defense: Keep it simple, don't overthink. But is that a Super Bowl formula?

2011 Record: 8--8

Jared Gaither

1

As a new era dawns for the Silver and Black, hopes hinge on whether Carson Palmer can find his franchise form of old

2011 Record: 8--8

Ron Bartell

71.1

A young running back's bruising style may have inspired just the attitude adjustment the Boys need to get back to the playoffs

2011 Record: 8--8

Brandon Carr

14

The defending champs' roster is again stacked with versatile and experienced players—except at one critical position

2011 Record: 9--7

Martellus Bennett

109

Founder: Henry R. Luce 1898--1967

The clock ticking on his Super Bowl quest, Michael Vick is vowing to carry the Birds on his wings this year. He's not dreaming

2011 Record: 8--8

DeMeco Ryans

39.8

In the nation's capital the hope for change now rests on the arm and legs of rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III

2011 Record: 5--11

Niles Paul

2

A new G.M. finally got this team up to speed with the rest of the league, but improvement doesn't come without a few risks

2011 Record: 8--8

Gabe Carimi

570

Everyone's playing catch-up with that record-setting offense—including the Pack's own younger, faster unit on the other side of the ball

2011 Record: 15--1

Jeff Saturday

150.2

Who will shut down Calvin Johnson? Nobody. But who will contain the opponents' receivers? Much better question

2011 Record: 10--6

Bill Bentley

46

Christian Ponder took his lumps in 2011. That's fine, as long as he follows the typical QB trajectory, especially the part about a big Year 2 leap

2011 Record: 3--13

Jerome Simpson

5.5

Persistent playoff failure has this talented team recharging its offense to get even more dynamic—and checking its heart

2011 Record: 10--6

Asante Samuel

7.8

They're missing some key components but still have a bounty (yeah, we went there) of talent. So they'll just go out and play

2011 Record: 13--3

Steve Spagnuolo

47

Cam Newton could be even better in Year 2—a terrifying thought for the rest of the league—but it won't matter if the D can't hold a lead

2011 Record: 6--10

Luke Kuechly

7.3

Lance Armstrong's decision not to contest the doping charges leveled against him ends a career and an era

SI asked its Facebook and Google+ users over the weekend for their opinions regarding Lance Armstrong. More than 1,000 replied.

For new coach Greg Schiano, it's all about the little things—even if that meant getting bigger in certain places

2011 Record: 4--12

Aqib Talib

41.9

Somebody finally caught on, and a position of weakness—where were the wide receivers in 2011?—is suddenly a strength

2011 Record: 13--3

Randy Moss

22

A physically intimidating secondary will play a primary role in determining where this franchise goes next under Pete Carroll

2011 Record: 7--9

Sidney Rice

58

While the offense tries to unravel the tangled web at quarterback, the defense looks to tackle a problem of its own: mastering the 3--4

2011 Record: 8--8

Patrick Peterson

9

Steven Jackson leads the charge again. The difference? This time he has a coach with pedigree calling the shots

2011 Record: 2--14

Cortland Finnegan

83

Hard as it is to believe, as we draft our fantasy teams and fire up our flat screens in the U.S., there are still segments of the world that are not entirely in thrall to the NFL. The league is...

| DIED |

9

A five-year-old boy in Oklahoma City who wore a Michigan football T-shirt to his first day of kindergarten was ordered to wear it inside out because of a dress code that prohibits sports-team...

NOT: TIME TO GO, T.O.

BACK IN THE GAME

From the sublime (or at least prime time) to the ridiculous (the rid-Lochte-ous?)—from fulfilling dreams to inspiring memes—here's a look at what some 2012 Olympians have been up to since the...

"We're saving our good stuff for the regular season."

COLTS HERO

SAY WHAT?

The Dodgers emphatically tore up their roster by raiding the listless, top-heavy Red Sox. The trick now is to avoid becoming Boston

Last Saturday, Roger Clemens, 50, returned to the mound for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters, stirring memories of another aging hurler: Satchel Paige, who in 1965 pitched one game for the...

The good news for Los Angeles: It has now got even more serious talent. The bad news: It'll be paying for it for the next five years. A look at the Dodgers' guaranteed deals next season and in 2017.