OPINION

By Mike Florio

updated 10:48 p.m. ET Aug. 3, 2010

With training camps opening throughout the NFL, there are plenty of obvious story lines. So instead of breaking down the easy stuff like whether (or, more accurately, when) Brett Favre will return or who'll start during Ben Roethlisberger's suspension or whether Jay Cutler will take aim at Mike Martz, let's take a look at some more subtle things to watch as the 2010 season approaches.

1. Can Charlie Weis and QB Matt Cassel get along?
In Kansas City, Weis has assumed the duties of offensive coordinator, allowing Todd Haley to focus on coaching the team.

Many assume the relationship between Weis and Cassel will go swimmingly, given their mutual ties to New England.

But here's the thing. Weis left the Patriots before Cassel arrived, and there's no indication that the two men will click the same way Weis clicked with Tom Brady, or in the same way Cassel clicked with Josh McDaniels.

2. Will Roy Williams be asked to take less money?
If Roy Williams had fulfilled the potential that prompted the Cowboys to give up a lot more than a first-round pick in the trade, they wouldn't have needed to devote another first-round pick to the position, especially with Miles Austin on the team.

So now that Dez Bryant is under contract, and assuming he and Austin stay healthy, the next question becomes not whether the Cowboys will cut Williams, but whether they'll squeeze him into cutting his base salary of $3.45 million, with a threat of cutting him if he doesn't.

If Bryant continues to perform like he has to start camp, the Cowboys could end up telling Williams that if he doesn't accept a reduction he'll be carrying his own shoulder pads — right out of the facility.

3. Can T.O. stay healthy?
Apart from the question of whether the Bengals can keep receiver Terrell Owens happy is the question of whether T.O. can keep himself healthy.

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Last year, he showed signs of the beginnings of a physical breakdown. Owens injured a toe in the Hall of Fame game and missed a large chunk of training camp and the preseason. This year, he's a year older (he'll be 37 on Dec. 7) and a year closer to reaching the point where his spirit will still be willing but his body will have grown unacceptably weak.

So while we focus on whether he'll find a way to remain content despite having $2 million tied up in an incentive-laden contract, it's important to keep an eye on his ability to stay at 100 percent for all of training camp, the preseason and beyond.

4. How much work will Ben Roethlisberger get?
The biggest question facing the Steelers is whether veteran Byron Leftwich or the less experienced (but arguably more skilled) Dennis Dixon will secure the starting quarterback job for the first six (or four) games of the season, while Ben Roethlisberger serves a suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

But what about Roethlisberger? With limited first-team reps to get Leftwich and/or Dixon ready to play, how many chances will Roethlisberger receive to get himself ready to play when he returns from his suspension?

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The Steelers could be inclined to give Roethlisberger limited work, in the hopes of reserving the primary reps for Leftwich and Dixon. But that will serve only to make it harder for Roethlisberger to be at his best in October, and it could mean the Steelers will hold him out for an extra game or two while he gets back up to speed, especially if the team is thriving without him.

5. What will the Vikings do at backup quarterback?
Despite the news that Favre reportedly won't play in 2010, we assume he'll eventually show up and keep the Minnesota offense from sliding back into mediocrity. But who'll be the guy to take his place, if the Saints defense does to him in Week 1 what it did to him during the NFC title game?

Presumably, Tarvaris Jackson will get the job. But Sage Rosenfels could make a push to save his roster spot by climbing the ladder in camp.

Then there's Joe Webb, a rookie quarterback-turned-receiver-turned-quarterback who, in theory, could become the best option behind Favre — primarily since neither Jackson nor Rosenfels are all that good.

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