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Since the 2014 league year began in early March, Around The League has reset all 32 NFL rosters and declared the biggest winners and losers in free agency.
Another way to win the offseason? Welcome key players back from injuries that ruined their 2013 seasons -- or at least hampered their team's ability to compete.
Let's take a look at five teams with the most to gain from injured players returning to full health in 2014:
1. Green Bay Packers
Bryan Bulaga - 16 (games missed)
DuJuan Harris - 16
Jerel Worthy - 14
Casey Hayward - 13
Randall Cobb - 10
Aaron Rodgers - 7
Clay Matthews - 5
Nick Perry - 5
Brad Jones - 4
The Packers have made this list for the second consecutive season, which explains why they have been bounced from the playoffs despite boasting the NFL's best player in Rodgers. Although the injuries to key starters such as Bulaga, Hayward and Matthews contributed to Green Bay's postseason demise, it was Rodgers' fractured collarbone that contributed most to the mediocre won-loss record.
With so many players returning, Mike McCarthy's club is one of the league's deepest even if Julius Peppers is the only significant addition.
2. New England Patriots
Vince Wilfork - 12
Tommy Kelly - 11
Jerod Mayo - 10
Rob Gronkowski - 9
Sebastian Vollmer - 8
Shane Vereen - 8
Aaron Dobson - 4
Kenbrell Thompkins - 4
The Patriots have a strong claim for the top spot on this list. Four of the team's top eight players dropped within a one-month span.
In addition to losing the NFL's most dominant skill-position player in Gronkowski, they also entered the playoffs minus their two most important defensive stars (Wilfork, Mayo) as well as premier run-stuffer Brandon Spikes.
Even if Gronk and Wilfork are eased into the regular season, this roster should be considerably stronger by January.
3. Atlanta Falcons
Mike Johnson - 16
Kroy Biermann - 12
Sam Baker - 12
Julio Jones - 11
Sean Weatherspoon - 9
Steven Jackson - 4
Roddy White - 3
Jones is the engine that makes the Falcons' offense go. They were a competitive team with him and a pushover once his season ended in early October.
The offensive line and defensive front seven -- already areas of major concern -- were exposed on a weekly basis once Baker, Johnson, Biermann and Weatherspoon left the lineup.
The nucleus of Thomas Dimitroff's roster isn't much different than the one that averaged 12 wins from 2010 to 2012. If the general manager hits on a young pass rusher and a bulwark at left tackle early in next month's draft, the Falcons could reclaim the NFC South.
4. Denver Broncos
Ryan Clady - 14
Von Miller - 7
Rahim Moore - 6
Derek Wolfe - 5
Kevin Vickerson - 5
Wes Welker - 3
One of the reasons the AFC field was so weak in the playoffs was that its strongest teams were decimated by injuries. The Broncos made it to the Super Bowl without their best defensive player (Miller) and one of the league's premier blindside protectors (Clady).
Already the class of the conference, Denver will gain five starters returning from injury in addition to a trio of Pro Bowl-caliber free-agent additions.
If they meet the Seahawks in the Super Bowl again, the outcome will be different.
5. Indianapolis Colts
Dwayne Allen - 15
Vick Ballard - 15
Donald Thomas - 14
Ahmad Bradshaw - 13
Reggie Wayne - 9
Greg Toler - 7
Bjoern Werner - 5
It's a testament to Andrew Luck's brilliance that his team made it to the divisional round of the playoffs without his No. 1 receiver, top tight end, the two players atop the Week 1 running back depth chart and a starting guard.
With those players returning and Hakeem Nicks now on board, this could be one of the NFL's most improved offenses.
Even if the defense remains suspect, the AFC South is soft enough that the Colts should have little trouble coasting to another division title.
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Can's comments: I don't like using injuries as an excuse, because after all, every team has them. BUT, now and then in sports, key players go down that have a measurable impact on the team's performance. I like the fact that this has been accounted for in this article, and that we have been chosen as one team who got hit especially hard last season.......and still made it to the SB! Like the author alludes, getting these players back combined with the key acquisitions made, makes The Broncos a serious contender once again.
Center, 3. OT
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