Dwayne Riley-Grant

The Miami Heat have come along way since the days of The Decision, transformed entirely at both team and personal levels to the point where they’re the hands down favorite to win the NBA championship. If you thought the Big Three were imposing three years ago, or even last year when they won their first title together, think again.

Every team has that one character guy, the one who is the glue of the team, the heart and soul. It’s not necessarily always about the numbers, or the amount of All-Star appearances, but the intangibles. Amir Johnson is that guy for the Toronto Raptors. Dwayne Riley-Grant explains just how far the young big man has come in 2012-13.

There was no clear consensus No. 1 pick for the 2006 NBA Draft. There was no highly touted prospect that rival teams were clamouring over. Yes, Adam Morrison led Gonzaga to a memorable run in March Madness that year, and also led the nation in scoring. Scouts and execs throughout the league wondered aloud whether his lack of athleticism and all-around game would hamper his success once he was drafted. Ditto for J.J. Redick. And then there’s Andrea Bargnani.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco headed into this season without a guaranteed contract for next season and beyond. Fast forward to today; Flacco and his Baltimore Ravens are preparing to square off against the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl this coming Sunday. Are we ready to call him elite yet?

After evaluating the AFC teams on Monday, Dwayne Riley-Grant checks out who’s real and who isn’t in the NFC. Can Aaron Rodgers continue to lead the Packers to glory? Are Pete Carroll’s Seahawks truly contenders? Will the drama surrounding Alex Smith cause the 49ers to collapse?