NFL preseason 2014: Long national nightmare is finally over

As we get closer to the start of the NFL regular season, teams are still making decisions about starters and rosters. Which rookies could be leading their offenses Week 1? Which veterans could be headed for the bench?

Let’s go around the league and take a gander at some interesting position battles:

All 32 NFL teams are in action on Thursday night with the regular season only a tantalizing seven days away. Despite the flurry of action, only a few teams are playing anybody of consequence with most starters adorned in t-shirts, shorts and a relaxed demeanor.

Check back here throughout the night, as we will update upon the completion of each contest.

Still, Sam and Rams head coach Jeff Fisher believe he has a future in the NFL, whether it be in St. Louis or elsewhere.

Sam was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, but his draft stock was tough to gauge because of his size and speed. Sam ran a slow 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in February, registering a 4.91 time. At 6’2 and 255 pounds, Sam is undersized as a defensive end and too slow as a linebacker.

Vintage Johnny “Manziel” Football out here in the Browns’ final preseason game:

Complete! The young man lacks some things, but slipperiness is not one of them.

The Lions released a statement Thursday announcing the surgery for their 2014 second-round draft pick:

The idea was for the fan to drop the ball in his hands closest to the center of the circle at midfield. Somehow, that probably is not the part of this stunt that fans will remember, considering a mascot is flying through the air.

Vick has completed 12-of-20 pass attempts during this preseason with a QB rating of 110.8, while Smith is 23-of-34 for a rating of 89.1. But Smith has managed himself well and the team hopes he can avoid throwing the 21 interceptions he tossed last year. If the mistakes pile up, it won’t take long for Vick to be back under center as he was at the beginning of last year with Philadelphia.

Of course, Vick isn’t the only QB facing his old team. Sanchez, who has had an excellent preseason thus far, is playing his first NFL season with a team other than the Jets. If given an opportunity, can he play as well for Kelly as Vick did? And can Vick play as well for Ryan as he did for Kelly?

If there was ever a week not to bet on football, Week 4 of the NFL preseason would probably be it. The last real dress rehearsal was in Week 3, meaning starters will see very little time, and star players likely won’t see the field at all. Coaches will be focusing their attention on the very fringes of the roster as they ready their team for the final 53-man cut.

But if you still insist on putting money on this week’s exhibition slate, you might as well be prepared. Thanks to our friends at OddsShark.com, we have the lines for all 16 games, all of which will be played on Thursday.

Michael Vick and Mark Sanchez traded cities this offseason and now they both reunite with their former teams. Vick made some interesting comments this week about his initial trepidation over joining the Eagles back in 2009, but went on to praise the team for allowing him to mount a comeback to his NFL career. Squarely behind Geno Smith on the depth chart in New York, he’s expected to see a few snaps on Thursday.

This is also a big game for Sanchez, who’s been the center of trade talks during a blazing hot preseason run (25-of-31 passing for 281 yards and two touchdowns through three games). The most recent speculation has him heading to St. Louis to take over for Bradford, though that seems like a long shot at this point.