The 2014 NFL season is almost here, as Thursday night brings the final slate of preseason games. Every team will suit up and go to work one more time before the regular season arrives.

It’s true that week three is usually the week to tune into preseason play, but they play four games for a reason – for practice and for evaluation. There are still some things worth checking out in tonight’s 16 preseason contests, so let’s take a quick look at each game by nailing down the top thing fans should be looking for:

Falcons @ Jaguars

Chad Henne is still going to start in week one, but tonight we get one more look at impressive rookie passer Blake Bortles. Another fine performance could potentially change Jacksonville’s mind on who to start.

Lions @ Bills

It’d be nice to see talented rookie tight end Eric Ebron go off before the regular season comes around. He’s not even a lock to play a ton in the preseason finale, but if he does hopefully he shows off his elite athleticism.

Colts @ Bengals

Indy’s wide receiving corps will start settling in. We aren’t guaranteed an appearance by the veteran Reggie Wayne, but a second straight showing would be nice, while Da’Rick Rogers needs a strong end to his preseason to stick on the final roster.

Chiefs @ Packers

Jeff Janis is one of the top players to monitor in this game. He probably won’t have a shot at a real impact in his first season, but he has the size and speed to be a real player down the road. He should get a good amount of exposure tonight.

Rams @ Dolphins

Michael Sam probably takes the cake here. He registered two sacks in his last game and is starting to prove some of his critics wrong. The Rams are pretty deep on the defensive line, though, so if he hasn’t made the team yet he might need one more strong outing to get himself over the hump.

Jets @ Eagles

It’d be nice to see Michael Vick show any signs of life. Geno Smith is the starter, so he shouldn’t play much. Vick could get some run and hopefully he balls out to keep things interesting in New York.

Patriots @ Giants

Tim Wright is the newest Patriot, so it’d only make sense to see him get some work in before the regular season. He’ll operate as the “move” tight end, so it will be worth checking out for his role. Rob Gronkowski’s status remains up in the air, too, so keep a lookout for a possible appearance.

Panthers @ Steelers

More Dri Archer, please. Pittsburgh should be wise and sit their top running backs before the half (if they even play them at all), so hopefully we get a good dosage of the explosive Archer.

Redskins @ Buccaneers

With tight end Tim Wright now in New England, targets are up for grabs at the tight end spot in Tampa Bay. Rookie Austin Seferian-Jenkins hasn’t yet overtaken Brandon Myers, but he could make some strides tonight.

Bears @ Browns

Johnny Football time! Brian Hoyer and the starters shouldn’t play more than a quarter or two, which should open the door to extended time for Manziel and the rest of the backups. He’ll have a solid matchup and hopefully will put together his best performance yet.

Broncos @ Cowboys

Wes Welker is out with a concussion, so we should see more of rookie receiver Cody Latimer tonight. The first team won’t be on the field long at all in this one, but he’ll be worth checking out for role and impact.

49ers @ Texans

Frank Gore shouldn’t see much action as he gears up for week one, so that should leave a good amount of touches for rookie running back Carlos Hyde. Hyde probably has a solid role to start his first NFL season, but the team should try to get him involved in the passing game and pass protection one more time to get him as ready as possible.

Ravens @ Saints

Everyone keeps talking about Bernard Pierce and Ray Rice at the running back position in Baltimore, but rookie back Lorenzo Taliaferro is fairly talented and could end up having a bigger role than many think. He should get a good amount of action tonight.

Vikings @ Titans

Zach Mettenberger has quietly had a pretty good preseason, although he isn’t expected to even land the backup quarterback gig – much less push Jake Locker to start. He should close out the preseason with a strong outing and give himself a chance to be in the discussion later in the year if Locker struggles or gets hurt.

Seahawks @ Raiders

Rookie quarterback Derek Carr should get the start with Matt Schaub nursing an elbow injury. Schaub has been terrible, so Carr could push for the starting job with a good performance tonight. That’s easier said than done against the Seahawks, however.

Cardinals @ Chargers

The first team offense shouldn’t see much time on the field tonight for Arizona, so we should get another long look at rookie passer Logan Thomas, He was terrific in his second preseason game and will look to build on that momentum against the Chargers tonight.

It’s no secret the Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven’t had the best luck when it comes to their offensive line. There was the saga with now seemingly retired center Carl Nicks, while the Bucs were already hurting in the depth department on the o-line.

Now they’re not. The team made a borderline blockbuster deal on Tuesday afternoon, as they swung a trade for New England Patriots guard Logan Mankins. Mankins is 32 and naturally slowly regressing, but still graded out quite well in 2013 and thanks to a solid shelf life for NFL offensive guards, could still be somewhat of a long-term fix, as well.

New England clearly wasn’t going to lock Mankins up again on another huge deal, while his age and their confidence in the rest of their offensive line may have contributed to the move. That, and they also got athletic tight end Tim Wright in return, as well as unknown draft pick compensation.

Mankins going to Tampa Bay is obviously huge news for the Bucs, as their formerly ravaged o-line now gets some serious strength in the middle. The addition of Mankins improves their starting five, helps their depth and significantly boosts their otherwise spotty run-blocking.

New England, however, is sneaky here as they got a potentially lethal weapon in Wright. The Patriots lost the ability to exploit matchups in 2013, as Aaron Hernandez was accused of murder and Rob Gronkowski dealt with a number of ailments. Landing Wright gives them a solid second tight end behind Gronkowski, while Wright’s skill-set is similar to Hernandez’s and could allow him to slide into New England’s coveted “move” tight end role.

A former wide receiver at Rutgers, Wright is a handful in the slot thanks to a great combination of size and athleticism, and could be just what the doctor ordered for the Patriots offense. No one can know for sure just yet if Wright will develop into a key player for the Patriots, but he looked quite solid as a rookie playing a new position in 2013 and obviously has a good amount of upside. Arguably a bigger trade than many will suggest, this is a terrific move from both parties that should help both sides address a clear weakness in their respective offenses.

It’s hard to “win” something that was already always yours, but it’s been made official: Matt Cassel is the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. He will be to start the 2014 NFL season, at least, as he was consistently on top of his game throughout the preseason and edged out rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

It’s actually an impressive win, as Cassel held back the clear future of the franchise under center and truly did out-play Bridgewater every step of the way. That normally means nothing when talking about a competition with a young passer, but considering Bridgewater was actually quite solid himself, it showed Cassel was ready more than ever to lead an offense.

Naturally the better fit in Norv Turner’s vertical passing system, Cassel will march into a week one matchup with the dispirited St. Louis Rams in an attempt to play well right off the bat and hold onto the starting job. Cassel will have to do more than just put up some nice numbers, though, as a solid Bridgewater is arguably only a handful of losses away from getting his turn with the offense.

This is why the Vikings held onto Cassel during free agency, though. Now they have options.

Cassel has seemingly mastered Turner’s system and oddly better suits it, and should be able to make good use of a plethora of weapons, including superstar running back Adrian Peterson, wide receivers Greg Jennings and Cordarrelle Patterson and tight end Kyle Rudolph.

A year after putting up 11 touchdowns to nine interceptions and out-playing Christian Ponder, the 32-year old Cassel will once again try to stave off a younger quarterback to keep his job. It’s unlikely Cassel lasts the entire season, but for now he gives Minnesota their best chance at winning early in the year.

Cassel’s first game of the year could be an interesting one, as the Rams were shaky against the pass in 2013 but on the flip-side were dominant at putting pressure on the quarterback. If the Vikings can get Adrian Peterson going, it could help give Cassel more time to air it out and keep the Rams guessing. If that happens, Cassel could have a reasonable chance at getting 2014 started off the right foot.

The New England Patriots could have major changes in their offensive backfield when they take the field for the 2014 NFL regular season in week one. The biggest, potentially, could be the absence of running back Stevan Ridley.

A key part of New England’s rushing attack in 2013 and a borderline star rusher in 2012, reports suggest Ridley could be on the outside looking in as the Patriots decide which players stay and which go.

Ridley has struggled throughout his career with ball security and was demoted for a short while last year due to fumble issues. He lost a fumble yet again during the preseason and that very fact, along with New England’s solid depth at running back, could potentially seal his fate.

Shane Vereen exploded onto the scene two years ago in the playoffs, and had it not been for a freak wrist injury in week one of 2013, we may have seen a star blossom last year. Vereen is healthy and appears ready to be a prominent piece of New England’s offense this year, both as a rusher and receiver.

With Vereen in the lead, the Patriots could decide Ridley’s fumbling ways just aren’t needed, and instead roll with Brandon Bolden, rookie James White and Jonas Gray as the other backs in their offense.

Ridley holds no special teams value and is not a gifted receiver out of the backfield, so if the Pats have no early down or goal-line role for him, parting ways really could be the most logical move.

New England is smart from top to bottom, but especially so with their own personnel. Just like they’re doing with quarterback Ryan Mallett, the Pats will probably field all offers via trade talk before making a final decision. While Ridley really has struggled with fumbles and lacks versatility, he’s been a very effective inside and short-yardage runner. It’d be a mild surprise if the Patriots did actually move on from Ridley – and even more so if they flat-out released him – but it’s clear at this point it can’t be ruled out.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a problem atop their running back depth chart, but it has little to do with talent. The team’s top two running backs, Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount, were arrested on Wednesday for possession of marijuana, while Bell was charged with a DUI, as well.

The two reportedly had 20 grams of pot on them when they were caught, but the two Steelers running backs (as well as a female that was with them) “cooperated” with police and admitted their crimes.

Coming clean right off the bat helps, but both running backs still could face a team and/or league suspension. This is Bell’s first offense in the NFL, but it’s potentially a fairly staggering one considering he broke two league rules at the same time. Even if Bell would get a slap on the wrist for one offense, it’s possible the NFL could hand him down a lengthy suspension for doing two things that go against their code of conduct.

Blount has had various run-ins going back to his college days at Oregon, but it should help that he only was one of the three people caught with marijuana. Still, Blount’s shaky track record could lead to a suspension of his own.

The good news is that it’s a clouded situation that won’t even sort itself out for months, so the league will probably wait on any punishment until following the regular season. The Steelers, on the other hand, could still decide to inflict their own punishment.

They may want to consider not doing that, however, as the team has very little depth behind their top two running backs. Rookie “offensive weapon” Dri Archer really doesn’t have a true position, while the only other backs are little known Tauren Poole and Stephen Houston.

Pittsburgh brought Blount on to be a running mate with second-year back Bell, not to get him into trouble. It wouldn’t be crazy to think the Steelers would be above parting with Blount to help make sure Bell doesn’t get more clouded judgment going forward. For now, it doesn’t appear like any discipline is imminent, and both players are expected to be with the team for their third preseason game on Thursday night.

The Philadelphia Eagles just got a little more explosive. Unsatisfied with their depth at running back, the Eagles took a chance on Carolina Panthers backup running back Kenjon Barner, in exchange for a future seventh round draft pick.

Previously buried on Carolina’s running back depth chart behind DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert, Barner was potentially looking at being cut from the final roster before former college coach Chip Kelly made the move.

Barner still isn’t a lock to earn a defined role or even a roster spot in Philly, but arguably saw his odds increase greatly. Not only does he already know Kelly’s system for the most part from their days together at Oregon, but he also doesn’t have quite as stiff of competition to make the cut.

LeSean McCoy is locked and loaded as the Eagles top running back, but only passing down back Darren Sproles is secure on the remainder of the running back depth chart. Sproles himself was brought in earlier in the off-season via a trade with the New Orleans Saints, while the Eagles unloaded former backup Bryce Brown, as well.

The moves created a need for extra depth, as Barner will fight with the likes of Chris Polk and Matthew Tucker. Reports out of Carolina’s camp suggested Barner was severely “overmatched” in blocking assignments, while his brief time on the field as a rookie in 2013 had him proving to be rather ineffective as a skill player.

The move could also have been made to get another fresh, talented body into the mix leading into the season, as McCoy has been dealing with what is said to be a minor turf toe injury. Barner knows Kelly’s system and is an explosive player, so he could be added just to increase the talent and depth for the next few weeks. Per reports regarding the deal, the Eagles will only have to give up their draft pick if Barner remains on the final roster and plays more than four games in 2014.

If Barner does indeed make the final roster, it may have to be as a return man. Due to a lack of size, Barner will also need to show up better as a runner and receiver. If he can’t improve as a blocker, he may struggle to nail down any kind of a role with the Eagles, however.

A once stout Arizona Cardinals defense took another hit on Monday night, when the team learned they would be without star defensive tackle Darnell Dockett for the 2014 NFL season.

Per reports, the 33-year old left defensive end suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Monday’s practice and will be placed on season-ending injured reserve. While Dockett hadn’t quite been the elite pass-rusher he was in his prime, he was still highly effective and was being counted on for his versatile skill-set. Despite only putting up 4.5 sacks a year ago, Dockett has continued to be a solid two-way player that can both put pressure on the quarterback and also help against the run.

Arizona does still have the talented Calais Campbell on the right side, but without a proven pass rusher on the other side, opposing offense could concentrate on Campbell more.

Needless to say, it’s a mammoth-sized loss for a defense that already is getting ready for an entire year sans stud inside linebacker Daryl Washington and may not get safety Tyrann Mathieu back in time for the start of the season.

The Cardinals may have to turn to third round rookie Kareem Martin to start on the left side, while veteran Frostee Rucker could also be another option.

Arizona still has a good amount of talent on their roster, as stud cornerback Patrick Peterson leads a quality secondary from top to bottom. However, with Washington out, Karlos Dansby in Cleveland and now Dockett done for the year, their front line and linebacking corps suddenly leave a lot to be desired.

At the very least, a once athletic and aggressive unit is now looking to be fairly inexperienced. The Cardinals already had a bit of an issue at outside linebacker opposite of Jonathan Abraham, while all of their issues combine to make them appear old and slow. They will need some spirited play from the replacements for Washington and now Dockett to keep from slipping in the defensive ranks.

The Kansas City Chiefs will get 15 games out of veteran wide receiver Dwayne Bowe at the very most in 2014. Per reports, the star receiver will serve a one game suspension to start the 2014 NFL season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Bowe’s suspension comes after testing positive for marijuana back in November of last year. At the time, Bowe reportedly admitted to the offense and paid a fine, but NFL commissioner decided to also hand down a one-game suspension.

Bowe will be unavailable for the team when they take on the Tennessee Titans in week one, further enhancing an already large load on the team’s best offensive player – Jamaal Charles. Already slated for a big role as one of the offense’s few elite weapons, Charles will almost certainly run the ball even more to start the year, and should also see a few extra targets his way in the passing game.

As for Bowe’s actual positional replacement, Donnie Avery will likely step up into the number one wide receiver spot, while Junior Hemingway and possibly A.J. Jenkins will round out the top three receiver spots. With Bowe out, the team is also expected to enhance the role of pass-catching tight end, Travis Kelce.

While Bowe is a steady and reliable weapon on the outside at wide receiver, he had disappointed in recent years. It’s arguably far from all his fault, but the 29-year old has put up lackluster stats in each of the past two seasons after putting up big numbers in 2010 and 2011.

Bowe suffered through a very difficult 2012 season that saw the Chiefs post the league’s worst record. Bowe managed just 59 receptions for 801 yards and three scores that year, as he endured the play of bottom level quarterbacks.

The quarterback position was upgraded last year with the acquisition of former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, but Smith and Bowe really never developed a rapport. Bowe put up his second straight disappointing campaign with just 57 catches and 673 yards, although he was able to score five touchdowns.

The jury is still out as to whether or not Bowe can get back to playing at a high level and get on the same page with Smith. While it certainly remains to be determined, we won’t be able to find out until week two at the earliest.

Golden State Warriors superstar point guard Stephen Curry isn’t going anywhere right now, but he said enough in a recent interview that suggests that might not be his line of thinking forever.

According to Inside Bay Area, the star sharpshooter has thought about leaving Golden State to play for the Charlotte Hornets.

“I’ve always had thoughts about playing at home, what it’d be like,” Curry said in an interview on The Doug Gottlieb Show last week.

Currys’ father, Dell Curry, played in Charlotte for a decade and Curry has fond memories of his family’s time in North Carolina.

But does that mean he’s seriously thinking about bolting from Golden State? If he is, it’s not likely it will happen anytime soon.

Curry acknowledges the Warriors have put together a talented and cohesive team, one that can evolve into a true title contender, if it isn’t in fact already one. The Warriors learned just how tough they were last year in the playoffs, when they took a good Los Angeles Clippers team to a full seven game series.

Curry has even challenged the idea that LeBron James is a superior offensive player than he is, despite finishing behind James in offensive efficiency.

Already proving in the past that he was an elite shooter, Curry elevated his game even more last season, as he averaged a career high 24 points per game, as well as 8.5 assists per game. Curry’s assist numbers put him in the upper level of NBA point guards, while represent a whopping 1.6 assist per game jump from his previous career high.

With improved efficiency and heightened vision and playmaking ability, Curry is clearly well aware that his game is now at the level of an NBA star that can take on anyone – even James.

While Curry’s thoughts are mere opinions of a young, rising superstar, it’s important to note that he’s not backing down from James or any other superstars. He’s in his prime and playing the best basketball of his life. With three more years on his contract in Golden State, the Warriors couldn’t be in a better place with him than they are right now.

The chaos is finally over in Los Angeles. It is for the Clippers, at least. Donald Sterling is no longer the owner of the Clippers, as the NBA has announced that the team has finally officially been sold to it’s new owner, Steve Ballmer.

The Clippers had a dark cloud hanging over their heads since the NBA playoffs last year, when their former owner made racial remarks in a tape recording that was then leaked to the media and went viral. Sterling was quickly voted out of the league of owners after NBA commissioner Adam Silver looked at the situation from all angles, while no action by the league could have sparked an uproar by the media and players.

Luckily it never came to that, as Silver was seen as a decisive man in his first year at the job, as he dispatched the infamously crass Sterling and set in motion a new era for the Clippers.

Los Angeles head coach Doc Rivers was initially extremely upset about Sterling’s comments, and had voiced his desire to resign from his post with the team if Sterling had somehow remained the owner. The league didn’t let that happen, though, and now Rivers will reportedly look to stay in Los Angeles for years to come.

Rivers still has two years remaining on his current contract, at $7 million apiece, but he and the Clippers will be looking to lock down a long-term deal after a mostly successful first season at the helm.

The Clippers can now move forward into the 2014-15 NBA season with the legal and media issues now a thing of the past. With Rivers leading the way, Los Angeles once again has a very good roster on paper, led by superstars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. The team will be looking to take the next step and advance to the Western Conference Finals next season.