10 biggest NFL stories of 2021

The 2021 NFL calendar was filled with twists and turns. With 2022 upon us, it's time to reflect on the year's 10 biggest stories.

10. Antonio Brown's vaccination card Simon Bruty / Sports Illustrated / Getty

Brown appeared to leave his drama in the past when he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. The 33-year-old kept himself out of the spotlight while helping the Bucs win Super Bowl LV and quietly re-signed with the club in April 2021, but it was only a matter of time until "AB" resurfaced.

On Nov. 18, Brown's former personal chef - who was suing him for unpaid work - said the star wideout had submitted a fake COVID-19 vaccination card to Tampa Bay to skirt the NFL's protocols. Brown's lawyer refuted the claim, saying the receiver was fully vaccinated.

The league investigated and two weeks later handed out three-game suspensions to Brown and a pair of others for misrepresenting their vaccination status. Brown's lawyer maintained his client's innocence but chose not to appeal the NFL's punishment. Brown later settled the ex-chef's lawsuit.

9. Cam Newton returns to Carolina Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

From 2011-19, Newton was the inimitable charismatic face of the Carolina Panthers. That all changed in 2020 when Carolina hired a new coach in Matt Rhule, who released Newton while he was rehabbing from injury.

Newton eventually took a one-year deal with the New England Patriots and re-signed for a second year in 2021. But when New England shockingly cut him at the end of the preseason, Newton faced an uncertain future in the league.

The former MVP spent two months waiting for a call, watching from afar as clubs signed and cycled through various quarterbacks. Finally, his phone rang, and a familiar number popped up on the screen. On Nov. 11, the same team that released Newton two years earlier signed him as an injury replacement for Sam Darnold.

The Panthers' all-time leading passer made his season debut three days later, scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals. In true Newton fashion, he celebrated by shouting into the cameras, "I'm baaaaaack!"

8. 49ers trade 3 firsts for No. 3 Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Five years ago, John Lynch shocked the NFL world when he acquired quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from the Patriots for a second-round pick at the trade deadline. Garoppolo led the San Francisco 49ers to Super Bowl LIV and won 22 of his first 30 starts, but injuries derailed his 2020 campaign and led the club to envision alternatives.

A month before the 2021 draft, Lynch pulled the trigger on what promised to be a career-defining trade, agreeing to send a whopping three first-round picks to the Miami Dolphins for the No. 3 overall choice. The 49ers used the pick on Trey Lance, a raw passer loaded with physical tools.

"From Day 1, we've been very up-front with Jimmy," Lynch said after the draft. "When I went to Jimmy, I told him the truth. Like, 'Look, we have made a decision that we're going to pursue a quarterback this offseason. You know, Jimmy, when you've played, you've been tremendous, and the record speaks to that. We feel like there's room for growth. The biggest thing has been it's hard to keep you on the field.'"

Garoppolo has retained the starting job in 2021 but figures to be on the move in 2022.

7. The Hoodie's revenge Bryan M. Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty

New England endured its first losing season in 20 years in 2020, and Bill Belichick clearly wasn't interested in revisiting that path. So on the eve of free agency in March, he instructed Patriots owner Robert Kraft to get his checkbook ready.

Within a 20-hour period, Belichick spent $239 million on free agents with nearly $160 million guaranteed. His spree secured the likes of Matthew Judon, Jonnu Smith, and Hunter Henry and strayed from his usual approach of waiting out the market for discounts. A month-and-a-half later, he drafted a new field general in Mac Jones to serve as the primary piece of his retooling project.

New England went into the 2021 campaign with renewed expectations. After a 2-4 start, the Pats went on a seven-game win streak to reestablish themselves as contenders. Belichick's signature game took place in Week 13 when he led the squad to a prime-time win over the Buffalo Bills with his rookie signal-caller attempting just three passes amid blustery conditions.

6. Rams go all in - repeatedly Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / Getty

There was no chance Jared Goff wouldn't return as the quarterback of the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. The former No. 1 pick was coming off his third trip to the playoffs in four years and was about to begin a four-year, $134-million extension. But when Matthew Stafford told the Detroit Lions he was ready to move on, the ever-aggressive Rams couldn't help but inquire.

Then, a stunner: Days before Super Bowl LV, Los Angeles sent Goff and two first-round picks to Detroit for Stafford. The deal - which began as a pipedream given the Rams' tight cap situation - instantly became one of the biggest quarterback trades of all time.

General manager Les Snead didn't stop there, either. He pulled off another shocker at the trade deadline, acquiring star edge rusher Von Miller from the Denver Broncos. Miller had spent his entire career in the Mile High City up until the deal.

L.A. signed former Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. soon after. The Cleveland Browns had just released Beckham after his father posted an 11-minute video on Instagram of quarterback Baker Mayfield failing to get the ball to his son while he was open. The Rams beat out the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, and New Orleans Saints for Beckham's services.

5. Deshaun Watson Bob Levey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Seven days into the new year, NFL Network reported that Watson was upset with the Houston Texans for excluding him from their search for a new general manager. Publicly, the Texans insisted everything would be fine. Privately, Watson's relationship with the organization appeared to be worsening by the day. By the end of the month, the star quarterback had demanded a trade.

Initially, Houston was defiant in its intention to keep Watson. Only 25 at the time, Watson was already among the league's best quarterbacks and was under contract for five more seasons. The NFL world waited with bated breath for the situation to unfold, but then a bombshell dropped.

"As a result of a social media post by a publicity-seeking plaintiff's lawyer, I recently became aware of a lawsuit that has apparently been filed against me," Watson wrote March 16 on social media. "I have not yet seen the complaint, but I know this: I have never treated any woman with anything other than the utmost respect. The plaintiff's lawyer claims that this isn't about money, but before filing (the) suit he made a baseless six-figure settlement demand, which I quickly rejected. Unlike him, this isn't about money for me - it's about clearing my name, and I look forward to doing that."

Twenty-one additional women went on to file lawsuits against Watson, all saying he committed sexual assault or misconduct during massage sessions. Ten women filed criminal complaints. While trade rumors resurfaced around the deadline, no deal came to fruition. Watson sat out the 2021 campaign, and his future on and off the field is in limbo.

4. TB12 wins with the Bucs Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / Getty

For years, we wondered whether Belichick or Tom Brady was more integral to New England's dynasty. In 2021, we learned the answer was Brady.

Brady captured his seventh Super Bowl in his first season with the Buccaneers, leading Tampa Bay to a rout of Kansas City at Raymond James Stadium in February. Brady had encountered some hiccups early in the 2020 campaign, but by the time 2021 rolled around, the Bucs looked like a well-oiled machine.

The longtime veteran won three road playoff games en route to the championship for the first time in his career, notching wins at Washington, New Orleans, and Green Bay. He also won the title from a wild card spot - another first in his illustrious career - and at 43 years of age, he broke his own record as the oldest quarterback to win the Super Bowl.

Brady went 21-for-29 against the Chiefs, throwing for 201 yards and three touchdowns. He tossed two of the touchdowns to former Pats teammate Rob Gronkowski, who came out of retirement to join him in Florida.

3. Raiders unravel Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Jon Gruden, Henry Ruggs, and Damon Arnette were supposed to be Raiders cornerstones. Gruden was in the fourth season of a 10-year, $100-million coaching contract, while Ruggs and Arnette were first-round picks in 2020. All three departed Las Vegas under shameful circumstances in 2021, leaving the team to pick up the pieces.

Gruden resigned in October after the Wall Street Journal published emails he sent to former Washington Football Team executive Bruce Allen that contained racist, homophobic, and misogynistic tropes. The NFL discovered the emails - which were sent between 2011 and 2018 - while investigating Washington's workplace culture. Gruden filed a lawsuit against the NFL after stepping down, claiming the league tried to assassinate his character in retaliation for his derogatory messages about commissioner Roger Goodell.

The Raiders released Ruggs in November after authorities charged him with reckless driving and DUI resulting in death. The wide receiver was allegedly alcohol-impaired and traveling 156 mph when he rear-ended 23-year-old Tina Tintor, sending her vehicle into flames and leaving her and her dog dead.

Las Vegas waived Arnette shortly after Ruggs when a video of the former brandishing firearms and uttering death threats surfaced on social media. The cornerback later latched on with the Dolphins' practice squad.

2. The Urbanization of Jacksonville Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

Urban Meyer said he spent a full year studying the NFL before accepting Shad Khan's offer to coach the Jacksonville Jaguars. A three-time national champion at the collegiate level, Meyer made the long-awaited jump to the pros a year after stepping down at Ohio State to get his health in order. Rumors had linked him to league openings in the past, but none of those opportunities were quite like the one Jacksonville presented.

Meyer touched down in Duval County on Jan. 14, inheriting a team equipped with cap space and the first overall pick in a draft that featured heralded quarterback prospect Trevor Lawrence.

But it took almost no time for Meyer to muddy his shoes. In February, he hired Chris Doyle as his director of sports performance. Doyle, who Iowa previously let go after the school investigated allegations of racism and bullying, resigned from Meyer's staff one day into his tenure amid backlash. Meyer went on to make several more errors - here are the lowlights:

• Signed Tim Tebow as a tight end six years after the former quarterback was last on an NFL roster
• Violated OTA contact rules, drawing fines for himself and the Jaguars
• Allegedly kicked Josh Lambo in the leg during training camp
• Revealed he factored players' vaccination statuses into his roster decisions, leading to an NFLPA investigation
• Received a dance from a woman who isn't his wife at a bar while the Jaguars traveled home from a road game without him
• Allegedly called his assistants losers and challenged their resumes even though he hired them
• Argued with Marvin Jones until the veteran left the facility
• Asserted that Andre Cisco was getting more playing time one day after the rookie safety played zero defensive snaps

Meyer went 2-11 before Khan waved the white flag, firing Meyer months into his five-year contract. When it was all said and done, Meyer had produced one of the worst campaigns in NFL coaching history.

1. The Aaron Rodgers sagas Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Rodgers first caught the football universe's attention after the NFC title game in January when he labeled his future with the Green Bay Packers a "mystery." He accepted the third MVP award of his decorated career a couple weeks later but turned heads again in April when reiterated his uncertain future.

Not long after that, the first shoe dropped. On the eve of the NFL draft, ESPN reported that Rodgers was so disgruntled with Packers management that he didn't want to return. Green Bay insisted its superstar signal-caller wasn't available for trade, but that didn't temper buzz that he could be on the move.

Rodgers held out of every offseason team activity, including mandatory minicamp. He vacationed in Hawaii, guest-hosted "Jeopardy!," and played exhibition golf with Brady - all while reports of his disdain for general manager Brian Gutekunst came out.

As training camp got underway in late July, Rodgers and the Packers called a truce, agreeing to stipulations that would help the passer jump to a new team in the future. In his first press conference of camp, Rodgers unloaded on Green Bay's front office, spending 30 minutes detailing each one of his gripes.

Nevertheless, Rodgers was back with the Packers, vaccinated and ready to play football ... err, that wasn't entirely true. In early November, NFL Network reported that Rodgers had tested positive for COVID-19 and would have to quarantine for at least 10 days as an unvaccinated player, contrary to how the reigning MVP characterized his status before the season.

"Yeah, I've been immunized," Rodgers now-famously responded in August when asked if he was vaccinated. The 38-year-old addressed the controversy two days later on "The Pat McAfee Show," decrying the "woke mob," admitting he never received the vaccine, and inciting more controversy with some of his other revelations.

Rodgers returned to the lineup amid all the hoopla after missing one game and picked up where he left off pre-infection. Rodgers and Green Bay rolled to another NFC North title, and the future Hall of Famer capped his roller-coaster year by breaking Brett Favre's franchise record for career touchdown passes with No. 443 on Christmas Day.

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