News flash: college football isn’t just about controversy. After a disastrously troubled off-season, the 2011 kickoff can’t come soon enough. TIME offers five scandal-free story lines to watch
Football
What ESPN’s ‘White Michael Vick’ Story Got Wrong
If the point of a good magazine story is to get people talking (hey, we even try it here at TIME), consider a piece in the new issue of ESPN The Magazine, “What if Michael Vick Were White?,” a grand success.
Are Terrelle Pryor and the Oakland Raiders the Right Fit?
In the wake of one of the many scandals that have rocked college football this year, Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor decided to go pro rather than return to school.
Why the University of Miami’s Football Program Is in Hot Water
Back in 1995, Sports Illustrated published an damning article on the University of Miami’s football team. Going back to the 1980s, Hurricane players had a reputation for breaking the law, cheating in school, and ignoring NCAA …
Fantasy Football Fever: The Most Obsessed Cities in America
Get a life, Green Bay.
Cheaters, Beware: NFL To Begin Human Growth Hormone Blood Tests
The new NFL collective bargaining agreement, which was officially ratified by players on Thursday, contains a historic provision.
‘They Need TV Product’: Why American Football Is Coming To India
American football has never really translated overseas. NFL Europe, for example, failed after a 16-year existence.
Randy Moss Retires: A Drama King Who Belongs in the Hall of Fame
Though Randy Moss may be most remembered for his moon, fans shouldn’t forget how he lit up the NFL.
Is the End of the NFL Lockout Bad for America?
For good reason, many people — this writer included — have cheered the NFL’s return. But would a football break have been a win for the game’s crazed fans?
Ochocinco and Haynesworth to New England: Has Bill Belichick Lost His Mind?
Bill Belichick, the dour coach of the New England Patriots who has long preached the importance of character in his players, acquired two of the NFL’s most notorious misfits on Thursday.
Trade Madness: 7 Reasons Why Baseball and Football Are So Frenzied
This week, the transactions wire and rumor mill are going mad.
The End of the NFL Lockout: What Each Side Got
The NFL lockout came to a close on Monday afternoon, as player representatives from all 32 National Football League teams approved a new collective bargaining agreement that the owners ratified last Thursday night. “Football is …
If You Build It, They Will Negotiate: Funny or Die Tackles NFL Lockout
Finally, a there’s a reason to smile about the NFL lockout.