Written by Adam Schefter at ESPN.com
As the final days of the 2015 season wind down, it’s almost time to shift the spotlight toward the offseason. Here are the storylines that will dominate the weeks ahead, including the potential departure of a few of the league’s longtime stars.
1. Fall of the legends
Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning could well be playing the final game of his iconic NFL career Sunday in Super Bowl 50, while Lions wide receiverCalvin Johnson, Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch and Packers linebacker Julius Peppers may have already played theirs. Justin Tuck announced his retirement. During their careers, all of those players were as good as any at their positions.
Manning now gets his chance for the Super Bowl storybook ending that John Elway, Michael Strahan, Jerome Bettis and Ray Lewis once experienced, the ultimate capper to an all-time career. Manning might be the biggest name to leave the league, but he won’t be the only one. Chances are Johnson retires, something the Lions have known was coming for a while, and that he reinforced to head coach Jim Caldwell the day after the regular season ended. When Detroit interviewed coaches in 2014, they were told then of the concerns doctors had for Johnson’s longevity and the condition of his ankles, so it’ll be no surprise if he walks away now.
As for the other notable players, Seahawks general manager John Schneider already has said it is his understanding that Lynch is “leaning towards retirement.” Peppers is a nine-time Pro Bowl selection who made it sound like he has played his last game. And this list doesn’t even include former all-time great defensive back Charles Woodson, who announced this would be his last season before the Raiders’ final home game. So this could shape up as quite an offseason for goodbyes — and quite a potential Hall of Fame Class of 2021.
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