The 2015 NFL season is right around the corner and while the excitement will continue to build throughout the preseason, there is certainly a notable list of players that won’t be in their respective lineups when Week 1 rolls around due to suspensions. Here is a look at the five most notable absences that will factor in to the early season results this September.
Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Suspension Length: 4 Games
The number of games that Brady will miss remains up in the air after the NFLPA took his case to a federal judge. While there is a good chance the number is reduced, there isn’t much doubt about the impact not having No. 12 will have on the Patriots if he misses even a single game.
The 10-time Pro Bowler is coming off his fourth Super Bowl win with New England and while second-year quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to be able to hold down the fort in his absence, the reality is that not having Brady in the lineup for even Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers could crippling. Their first four games include home games with Pittsburgh and Jacksonville, and road games to Buffalo and Dallas.
Greg Hardy, Dallas Cowboys
Suspension Length: 4 Games
The fact that the Cowboys ranked 19th in total defense last season represented a major step forward after they finished dead-last in the NFL the year before. However, defensive variance is often hard to predict from one season to the next and there is a very legitimate concern about that unit heading in to this season. Hardy was signed to provide a dominant pass rushing presence off the edge but he is slated to miss the first four games because of suspension.
That could really hurt that group early on as they face Eli Manning, Sam Bradford, Matt Ryan and Drew Brees in the first four weeks. Dallas will open its season against four straight opponents that finished in the top 10 in total offense last season –including the division rival New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles in weeks 1 and 2.
Rolando McClain, Dallas Cowboys
Suspension Length: 4 Games
Factor in the absence of their star linebacker McClain for four games and suddenly it looks like the Cowboys could face some major issues on the defensive side of the ball throughout the first quarter of the year. McClain’s 81 tackles last season were the second-most by a Dallas defender and the fact that both he and Hardy miss the first four games makes that unit’s situation that much more complicated early on.
Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
Suspension Length: 2 Games
Bell ran for 1,361 yards and eight touchdowns for the Steelers last season and pitched in another 83 receptions for 854 yards with three touchdown catches to rank among the most dominant running backs in the NFL. His absence will create an obvious hole for the first two weeks of the season. However, Pittsburgh signed veteran DeAngelo Williams to help Dri Archer carry the load with Bell out and if they can find a way to beat New England on the road in Week 1, they should be good to beat the San Francisco 49ers at home the following week and improve to 2-0 without their star running back in the lineup.
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Sean Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
Suspension Length: 3 Games
The Chiefs had their share of issues on both sides of the football last season but after reloading in the offseason, they appear ready to challenge for a playoff spot in the AFC this season. The loss of cornerback Sean Smith won’t help their case early on in the year though even if they do have the benefit of playing the Houston Texans in Week 1. Kansas City will host Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in Week 2 before travelling to Lambeau Field to visit Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, so not having their elite cornerback for the first three games will really hurt.
