NFL’s best and worst of 2023: Who stood out – for better or worse?

As the countdown clock ticks toward 2024, this is surely the time to look back at the year it has been in the NFL. As usual, no shortage of drama. Some highlights, lowlights and stuff in between:

Best audition to keep job: Antonio Pierce

The last time the Las Vegas Raiders were revitalized by an interim coach (Rich Bisaccia, 2021), team owner Mark Davis went against the grain of players lobbying for Bisaccia and bypassed him for the “permanent” job that went to Josh McDaniels. Well, McDaniels didn’t last halfway through Year 2 before he was fired with his hand-picked GM, Dave Ziegler. Now Pierce, who changed the culture immediately and has W’s as receipts, is similarly deserving of a chance to stay on a long-term basis. Has Davis learned that lesson? TBD.

Worst break: Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets

The potential was so inviting. Lure an MVP QB to a mix that includes a championship defense. Then came opening night and a torn Achilles tendon. Sorry, Jets fans. You know. Too good to be true.

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Best armchair quarterback: Tom Brady

Despite much buzz that TB12 might unretire, he’s taken his seven Super Bowl rings and lately has embodied a “get off my lawn” guy. Brady has publicly shamed the NFL’s “mediocrity” (a mere months after he stopped playing) and criticized Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew II for contributing to ace receiver Michael Pittman Jr.’s injury risk. Is Brady, who already has a hefty deal with Fox, warming up for his TV gig? Here’s to hoping that TB12 brings such heat and candor in his TV gig.

Worst hands: Kadarius Toney

The poster child for the epidemic of dropped passes that have underscored why the Kansas City Chiefs offense fell from prolific to a band of underachievers. The Chiefs have dropped thirty-something passes to lead the NFL, and no one has had more glaring miscues than Toney – also flagged for lining up offsides to wipe out a would-be go-ahead TD in the final minute of a Week 14 loss against the Bills. The pattern started in the opening-night loss against the Detroit Lions, when a Toney muff was converted into a Brian Branch pick-six. Other lowlights came against the Eagles and Patriots…and with Toney’s unprofessionalism after his gaffes as he left it to teammates to explain while bolting from the locker room without addressing the media. 

Best trash talk: Deebo Samuel

The spiciest storyline heading into the NFC title game rematch involved the San Francisco 49ers’ star receiver, who refused to take back calling Philadelphia Eagles cornerback James Bradberry “trash” after the championship game. Then came the rematch. Samuel scorched Philly for 138 yards from scrimmage and three TDs – including two long-distance catch-and-run jobs to fuel a blowout victory at The Linc. That’s how one drops a mic.

Worst gesture of fan appreciation: Detroit Lions

You may have heard that the Lions won a division crown for the first time in 30 years. What’s shameful, though, is that for all the support from long-suffering fans extending decades, the Lions raised prices on season tickets for 2024 by an average of 30%. And some of the hikes at Ford Field are as much as 85%. These fans endured 0-16, Matt Patricia, Matt Millen and, well, Scott Mitchell, and this is the supply-and-demand thanks. What bad optics.

Best comeback: Damar Hamlin

His heart stopped beating on the field in Cincinnati after the Buffalo Bills safety made a routine tackle during a Monday night showdown in early January. Thanks to first responders and treatment at Cincinnati Medical Center, Hamlin survived. His ordeal united and inspired people, too. Then he resumed his football career.

Worst (potential) free agency tour: Lamar Jackson

Soured on bogged-down negotiations while seeking a fully guaranteed long-term contract extension, the Baltimore Ravens quarterback asked for a trade before the team slapped him with the franchise tag in March. Sure, he was free to leave as a “free agent,” but remarkably (or not), no other NFL team made a bid on Jackson, as there were strings attached that included giving up two first-round picks. It was unusual that several NFL teams publicly expressed having no interest in Jackson. But none looked as bad in the process as the Atlanta Falcons, with team owner Arthur Blank expressing concern about Jackson’s injury risk. Ultimately, the Ravens and Jackson struck a five-year, $260 million deal that briefly made him the NFL’s highest-paid player at the time. And look at him now: Jackson hasn’t missed a game and is front-runner for MVP honors…while the Ravens (12-3) have the NFL’s best record.

Best bank runs: Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert

It’s striking that for all of the “concern” about Jackson’s injury, Burrow and Herbert wound out with season-ending injuries after landing massive new contracts late in the summer. Burrow is the NFL’s highest-paid player, averaging $55 million on a five-year, $275 million extension. He fought back from a hamstring injury that floored him early in the season, then in November suffered the torn ligament in his right wrist that ended his season. Herbert topped Jackson’s contract with a five-year, $262.5 million deal, but was finished for the year in December with a fractured finger. The injured QBs followed Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has a fully-guaranteed, five-year, $230 million deal, but was done for the season in November after undergoing shoulder surgery. Not knocking any of the quarterbacks for getting paid their market value, but when juxtaposed against the noise that was prevalent in Jackson’s case, it is so apparent that there’s tremendous injury risk for any player in the NFL – not just a quarterback like Jackson who brings a multi-dimensional threat as a passer and runner. After all, it’s football.

Worst bargain: Derek Carr

The New Orleans Saints reunited coach Dennis Allen with the former Raiders quarterback and signed Carr to a $150 million contract that averages $37.5 million and guarantees $100 million. The investment is backfiring. The Saints offense has struggled in the red zone (19th in the NFL). And the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – with a cheaper quarterback in Baker Mayfield – are in the driver’s seat to win the NFC South.

Best new NFL ambassador: Taylor Swift

Not only has Travis Kelce become a household name with a legion of non-football fans because he dates the pop megastar, the attention that Swift has attracted to the NFL due to her presence at so many Kansas City Chiefs games is a phenomenon that even the league’s marketing gurus would have been challenged to create. I mean, in being named Time’s “Person of the Year” for 2023, Swift said: “Football is awesome, it turns out.” What a golden endorsement. And just when you thought the popularity meter for the NFL was nearly maxed out, along came the “Swifties” to invade the NFL universe.

Worst convenient targets: NFL officials 

That was roughing the passer? No way! How could they miss that pass interference? Please define what constitutes holding against elite edge rushers such as Micah Parsons, Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt. So often, the men and women in black-white-stripes get it right. But the inconsistency is maddening – especially to players, coaches, fans and uh, gamblers. That makes the officials the perfect targets for criticism. Like usual? It seems like the noise has ramped up this year to the point that even the lovable Chiefs coach, Andy Reid, drew a $100,000 fine (as he should have) for blasting the refs.

Best rookie: C.J. Stroud

The record-breaking Houston Texans rookie quarterback makes you wonder whether the Carolina Panthers made the right choice in picking Bryce Young with the No. 1 pick overall. It’s unfortunate, though, that Stroud’s stretch run has been derailed by the after-effects of a concussion.

Worst backup quarterback: Mitch Trubisky

Young quarterback Kenny Pickett had a huge hand in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 7-4 record through November because he protected the football so well. Pickett, a second-year pro, has the NFL’s lowest interception rate (1.2%) and committed just four turnovers (and zero lost fumbles) in his 12 games. Then Pickett suffered the ankle injury that has sidelined him for the past three games. Which brings us around to Trubisky, who was benched last week for No. 3 QB Mason Rudolph. Trubisky matched Pickett’s season total with four turnovers in three games since Pickett was injured. No, Trubisky was not the best representative for the Year of the Backup Quarterback.

Best tribute for a legend: Browns honor Jim Brown

During Hall of Fame weekend in August, the Cleveland Browns held an invitation-only memorial tribute for Jim Brown. It was fitting that the program was conducted in Canton as dozens of Hall of Famers attended, including Ray Lewis, who gave a stirring speech in reflecting on the mentor who passed away in May. Legendary promoter Bob Arum also shared memories of how Brown helped him launch his career. And award-winning singer Johnny Gill brought the house down with his rendition of the classic Sam Cooke sing, “A Change is Gonna Come.”

Best rebound from surgery: Mike McCarthy

Worst commitment to a new coach: Carolina Panthers

David Tepper hired Frank Reich as the Panthers’ coach in late January. Tepper fired Reich in late November. In between, they drafted Young with the No. 1 pick overall. No, Reich couldn’t stand on his 1-10 record. But 11 games isn’t much of a chance to turn the ship around.

Best in-season adjustment: Sean McDermott’s switch to Joe Brady as offensive coordinator

The Bills have won four of five games since Brady replaced the ousted Ken Dorsey as the play-caller, and the move may have saved the season as Buffalo (9-6) has surged into a likely playoff spot. The biggest difference in the offense? Brady is calling the number more on running back James Cook, which was needed to lessen the load on multi-dimensional quarterback Josh Allen. McDermott parted ways with defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier after last season and assumed the defensive play-calling duties. If the Bills keep this flow and make a deep playoff run, the bold moves by an embattled head coach will go down as even more of a game-changer.