The NFL off season is officially underway as the parade is over and the combine begins.

With it comes free agency and who may leave for greener pastures. This is closely followed by, and intertwined with, the players that may miss games with their teams for other reasons not as green...more blue...legal issues. 

So far there are plenty of stories to follow including the usual domestic, drug, and partying issues. Most noteworthy have been from the infamous Johnny "Football" Manziel and Lesean "Shady" McCoy. Both involved very interesting stories with heavy use and police involvement, and will take some serious time to sort out.

Let's start with Johnny, who's ongoing issues will leave him released from the Cleveland Browns in a matter of weeks. Manziel, allegedly, struck his girlfriend to the point her eardrum was blown. He also may have threatened to kill both her and himself.

More impressively, the incident included the use of helicopters in search of Manziel. Also, as recently as this week, a video is said to have been found.

Good luck with this one Mr. Goodell. You must have took a shot of scotch in your office when news of video came out. This rings a bit too much like the Ray Rice Saga, and may get very ugly. 

Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Lesean McCoy was back in town. I guess many were butthurt you left shady, as apparently the city of brotherly love did not teach you so brotherly when back.

Charges have been filed against him and his entourage after a club dispute involving a bottle of champagne and off duty Philly police...never a good thing.

Again, ALLEGEDLY, McCoy and his entourage began to fight with the officers after a bottle of champagne they ordered was grabbed by one of the officers. It seems the officers made an order also, and it was some sort of serious misunderstanding in the end.

By serious I mean the kind of serious that lands you with serious legal questions. The incident is getting very odd with Philadelphia police union members questioning the odd nature of why McCoy is yet to be officially charged.

This seems to be for good reason as this week McCoy was set to have a secret meeting with the DA to discuss the matter. Something I am sure many people do not get...if any. That meeting though, like the Manziel case, will have to wait however.

In a bizarre twist the meeting spot was disclosed and a media circus ensued, which caused the meeting to be cancelled.

Speaking of circuses, more stories like this and Goodell will have to worry about canceling things too... Like sleep, the CNN channel from his local provider, and perhaps the use of nail clippers as he knaws his away. 

picture: flickr\creative commons