There's a lot more to preseason games than Pop Warner playbooks and starters roaming the sidelines in baseball caps.
Sure, preseason football isn't the most scintillating entertainment. But August exhibitions are a chance for rookies to shine, camp battles to crystalize, new contributors to rise and for teams and coaches to prove that they've moved past last year's dramas and are ready to start fresh.
This edition of Gridiron Digest previews the preseason with a rundown of the teams with the most to prove, including the soapy Steelers and the snakebitten 49ers. But there's much more, including:
• News and notes from Ravens and Eagles camp visits
• A deep dive into Michael Thomas' historic contract and stats
• Smart-money wagers on this year's passing, rushing and receiving leaders
• A Point-Counterpoint that's full of mustaches and bare feet but isn't the least bit creepy
Let's kick things off with some teams who have their work cut out for them over the next few weeks.