NFL Position Battles: Overrated and Underrated

As training camps open across the NFL, football fans everywhere will soon be flooded with discussions of “position battles”. While there are, in some cases, some very interesting camp competitions featuring potential impact players, local newspapers and national columnists alike will try to turn some irrelevant competitions into headlines as well. Not all position battles are created equal.

Here is a breakdown of some of the most overrated, and underrated, position battles going into training camp. A lot of ink will be spilled over most of these battles, but only some will truly shape the season.

Overrated Battles:

3. Randy Moss vs. Mario Manningham – 49ers WR 2

Quick Hits July 27: Noteworthy NHL Transactions

• Rick Nash is finally out in Columbus and on his way to the New York Rangers, and to me, that's not the most interesting piece of this move. That accolade would go the fact that Blue Jackets' GM Scott Howson waited this long to receive so little for his team's most valuable commodity.

Quick Hits July 25: Manny and Hanley

Courtesy: US PRESSWIRE

Is it 2008 again? Because the déjà vu factor is through the roof for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Four years ago, LA was fighting for a playoff spot, but struggling on offense. They decided to make a move for an extremely talented offensive player, who was known to be a headache off the diamond. Fast forward, and the Dodgers have done the exact same thing.

In 2008 it was Manny Ramirez; in 2012 it’s Hanley Ramirez.

Three New Raptors Who Will Shape 2012-13

Kyle Lowry and Landry Fields—the two newest Toronto Raptors—were introduced yesterday in a press conference. The two guards add depth to an already crowded back-court, and both players should see significant playing time this season. However, they aren’t the only new pieces the Raps will see in 2012-13. Lowry and Fields are good additions to be sure, but when paired with Jonas Valanciunas—the Raptors first pick in the 2011 draft—the signs point to a drastically different team from the 2011-12 model.