One of the greatest opportunities that I've ever had, certainly in football, was visiting the NFL Films facility this past June. I know that my first visit to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton will be magical but that will be a trip through football past. NFL Films is living, breathing football. It's football past, present and future come alive. They are the keepers of the NFL flame. It was an honor to have the opportunity to see the beautiful thing that Ed and Steve Sabol have created.
Three months later Steve Sabol lost his fight with brain cancer. Sabol did as much as anyone to create the NFL that we know today. His vision for the NFL and NFL Films carries on with the family that he built in Mt. Laurel, NJ.
The NFL in 2012 will remembered best by the incredible comebacks of Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and the incredible crop of rookie quarterbacks.
Manning came back from a bunch of neck surgeries to a new team. He took that new team to the #1 seed of the AFC playoffs. He played like the quarterback we've always known rather than a quarterback that's spent a year under the knife. He's been fantastic all year and has the Broncos sitting as the Super Bowl favorites heading into the playoffs.
Peterson had his left knee destroyed as 2011 closed. He came back better than he's ever been in 2012. 2,097 yards rushing. 9 yards short of breaking Eric Dickerson's NFL record. The way that Peterson played the last half of this season makes 2,500 yards look possible in 2013. Peterson carried the Vikings to the playoffs.
Based solely on one season, the 2012 rookie quarterbacks have sparked memories of the incredible '83 class of Elway, Marino and Kelly. Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson have been nothing short of amazing. Al three have their teams in the playoffs. All three have played like veterans. All three have the Colts, Redskins and Seahawks smiling at a bright future. Fellow rookies Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weedon have also had some nice moments.
The NFL has been a passing league for several years now. It only looks to continue, even increase, moving forward. The amazing rookies are joined by a handful of 2nd-year throwers. Cam Newton, Andy Dalton, Christian Ponder and Colin Kaepernick have had enough positive moments that Manning, Brady and Brees can sleep calmly knowing that the passing future of the NFL is in good hands.
Every NFL year is entertaining. 2012 was more so than most due to the warming comebacks of Adrian Peterson and Peyton Manning. The play, poise and personalities of rookie quarterbacks Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson have breathed new life into a league that may not have needed it but sure could use it.
The passing of Steve Sabol may have been a sad note but it increased the light on the incredible art that he created at NFL Films. 2012 was also the year that I was able to see Sabol's amazing art first hand. I've always wished that I could have met him. In visiting NFL Films I feel that I did.
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