Players under the MOST pressure this NFL Season

5. Carson Palmer, Oakland Raiders

Probably a surprise to some that he's on this list, but when a team gives up (possibly) multiple 1st round picks for you and you have a ton of speed on the outside mixed with arguably the top RB in the game, the pressure is on. I can give Palmer some what of a pass for that poor excuse for QB play he displayed last season as he was "retired" trying to get the Bengals to trade him and then had to come to Oakland with a bunch of young receivers, learn the offense, etc. However, that 80.5 QB rating (62.3 QBR for the ESPN heads) to go with 2700 yards, 13TD 16INT in 10 games will not cut it. The Raider fanbase is dying for their first playoff berth since Jon Gruden and will not be ok with Palmer's mediocrity. Not only does Palmer need to live up to that trade hype, but he also has to prove the naysayers wrong as so far in his career he looks more like a flash in the pan then a franchise QB. 

4. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets

I remember it like yesterday, Kyle Orton (better than both Sanchez and Tebow) and the Denver Broncos having a rough start to the season and Orton struggling in another game. The entire crowd in Denver chanting "We Want Tebow!!" which brought us the ugly but thrilling stretch which became known as "Tebowtime!" Kyle Orton was coming off of a career season in Denver when his job was STOLEN from him by the fans. It did end up going well for Tebow as he led the then 1-4 Broncos on a winning streak, into the playoffs, and even overcame the vaunted Pittsburgh Steelers in his first career playoff game before getting beatdown, bumrushed and embarrassed by the Patriots the following week. Mark Sanchez is in a far worse situation. He's coming off a season where all Jets fans including myself second guessed him every step of the way and he looked like nothing more then a bottom tier QB which isn't what he was drafted for. Rex Ryan wanted Tebow personally, is a run-first kind've offensive mind, and brought in another like minded coach in Tony Sporano to give the offense some direction, which points to a Tebow Takeover as he did lead the best running offense in the league last year. If you've watched any sports TV over the past few days you'd know the Jets haven't scored a TD in preseason which is more a product of a terrible O-line and bad receiver in my opinion but Sanchez isn't doing much to solidify his spot. Opening the season home vs Buffalo, @Pittsburgh, @Miami, home to San Fran, and MNF  home vs Houston, will not be easy as a 1-4 start is very possible and just like Kyle Orton that 5th game is at home on MNF, the fix is in.




3. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys


The man everyone seems to love to hate, Tony Romo coming in at #3 on this list and I think it's pretty self explanatory. The Dallas Cowboys have entered the last 3 seasons as favorites to win it all and each season they come up short. Whether it's through fluke plays, terrible Romo decisions, or injuries there's always something stopping this team from making their progression. Now this season, with the worst team Romo has had in the last 5 seasons the pressure is completely turned up as owner Jerry Jones has even acknowledged the closing window of the Cowboys as currently constructed. Injuries haven't been Romo's friend so far this preseason as his favorite targets Witten and Austin are already hurting (Witten narrowly dodging season ending surgery), and Dez Bryant continuing to be Dez Bryant (arrested for allegedly beating his mother, as crazy as that sounds) and the offensive line has proven to be troublesome in the preseason as well. However I do believe Romo will take himself off this list this season, I don't think they'll win a ring but in an all of a sudden considerably better NFC I still believe they can be a playoff team behind the much underrated arm of Tony Romo. How he performs down the stretch and in the crunch time moments of this season will ultimately make or break his career from this point forward and I believe he will finally rise to the occasion.

2. Mike Vick/Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles

This list is about players but I believe the gun is being held to Andy Reid's job, and Mike Vick is on the other side of that gun, because it's up to him and his performance whether that trigger will be pulled. Mike Vick coming off the "dream team" season that didn't yield a playoff berth, knows the pressure has risen as he agreed with that stance in a recent ESPN interview. The pressure shouldn't all fall on Vick and Reid as Vick has already exceeded most people's expectations as A QUARTERBACK since coming from prison, especially coming off of a season where an offensive line coach was promoted to defensive coordinator (????) and their key free agent signing Nnamdi Asomuagh struggled in a new defensive scheme. However, when the teams flourish the QB gets the credit and when the team fails the QB gets the blame, whether fair or not it's true. On the other side of this team coming up short, Vick's 100mil contract and his proneness to injury aren't a very good mix. Not much to garner a #2 spot on a most pressure list eh? Well add to the equation that the Eagles have a loop hole in his huge contract where they can get out of it after this season and only take a $4mil cap hit, yea I'd say that puts the feet to the fire.

1. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos


On pace to break every formidable QB record known to man, including the infamous Brett Favre most games played without missing a start streak, it all came to a screeching halt last season. As a complete Peyton Manning fanatic I held out hope that it was all a facade and somehow he'd be back in time to start last season which obviously didn't happen. Peyton not only missed the 1st game of his career, but missed the entire season with an injury to his neck which eventually caused nerve damage, and required surgery. Peyton's loss to the Colts led them to the worst record in the NFL, the opportunity to start over with a new franchise QB in Andrew Luck and allowed Peyton to test the free agent waters for the first time in his career. To my surprise (and heartbreak) Manning eventually signed to the Broncos. The questions have already began swirling about whether Peyton will be able to get up after "the big hit", will Peyton be the same Peyton we know and love? Can Peyton lead this team with all it's young receivers to the playoffs, after Tebow did it last season? (yes I went there) Can Peyton catch his younger brother Eli who now has 2 superbowl rings to Peyton's 1? The NFL did the Greatest QB alive (my humble opinion) no favors with an opening schedule of Pittsburgh, @ Atlanta, Houston, Oakland, @ New England, and @ San Diego before what would be a much needed bye week. A 10 win season and playoff berth would be a remarkable accomplishment all things considered, and I believe if anyone on this list can live up to the pressure it's Peyton Manning.

Honorable Mentions: Tom Brady (coming off another superbowl loss), Andrew Luck (replacing Peyton Manning), Robert Griffin III (Redskins gave up the house and car for him), Adrian Peterson (Did he come back too soon?)