Bell: Farewell, 2014; the best and worst of the NFL

There is little debate that 2014 was perhaps the eventful year in NFL history – and not only because of the last-minute comebacks, wild division races or another Beast Mode run and subsequent silence from Marshawn Lynch.

There was much to savor, or more to loathe.

A quick look back, from my point of view:

Best catch: There's a new meaning to the phrase, "Bend it like Beckham," thanks to the acrobats of New York Giants rookie receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

Worst hype: After so much anticipation, Johnny Manziel finally cracked the starting lineup for the Cleveland Browns in Week 15…and instantly became Johnny Is Not Ready. With his series of off-the-field adventures raising questions about his maturity added to his misadventures on the field, it's fair to wonder whether Manziel will make it as a big-time quarterback – and if so, will he last?

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Best way to get mentioned with a legend: DeMarco Murray set an NFL record by becoming the first player to start as a season with eight consecutive 100-yard games. The Dallas Cowboys star broke the mark of six games held by the great Jim Brown.

Best and worst of adversity: Bruce Arians is like an NFL coaching version of The Terminator. He keeps coming, no matter what. Through one injury after another, the Arizona Cardinals coach demonstrated what it means to keep the faith in the next-man-up movement without flinching. He's in the playoffs with his third starting quarterback. Including all the hits to the Todd Bowles-coordinated defense, the Cardinals have persevered while losing 109 games from 21 players because of injuries.

Worst solution: Robert Griffin III didn't mesh with Mike Shanahan in Washington, so Dan Snyder got him a new coach in Jay Gruden. Just brilliant. Griffin wound up on the bench again, Gruden proved to be in way over his head and Snyder's team is still the pits.

Best comeback artist: Tough man Philip Rivers is perennially one of the NFL's most overlooked MVP candidates. His snapshot moment this year came on the road against the San Francisco 49ers, when he triggered the San Diego Chargers' comeback victory from a 21-point deficit.

Best press box moments: To honor the memory of Bryan Burwell after his death from cancer in early December, Washington public relations director Tony Wyllie paid tribute with a memorial and open seat in the press box for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist, who would have covered the Rams game at FedEx Field. What a classy gesture. The Kansas City Chiefs and Rams similarly paid homage at subsequent games, and the Rams decorated the press room at their headquarters with pictures of Burwell. I miss Burwell, a former USA TODAY colleague and even better friend. And I'll never forget the running joke that included his predictable response when I'd ask, early in the game, what he would write about the game. Burwell: "It hasn't happened yet!"

Best return on new record contract: Days after he signed a $100 million deal, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt was asked what the new deal meant to him. He replied, "I want to prove that I am worthy of it." Done. And how. Watt, the first player in NFL history with multiple 20-sack seasons, is a shoo-in for NFL defensive player of the year honors – and he scored three touchdowns as a goal-line target to boot.

Worst J.J. Watt moment: After one of his 20 1/2 sacks, Watt mocked Tennessee Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger – who made noise with a string of selfies he posted before making his first NFL start against Houston – by posing for a faux selfie of his own. Watt gets points for his sense of humor, but he lost points afterward when explaining his act as a message to the rookie about professionalism. Guess he showed him.

Best players in the shadow of Richard Sherman: It's no coincident that the Seattle Seahawks defense hit its championship stride after underrated middle linebacker Bobby Wagner returned from a five-game injury layoff. Big props also are due to Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett in the trenches, bringing the heat that so capably complements Sherman and the Legion of Boom secondary.

Worst Pro Bowl snubs: There should be a Robert Mueller probe into how Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was left off the Pro Bowl squad. Maybe somebody lost the videotapes? Detroit Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Fletcher Cox and an older pro who proved a lot of people wrong this year about supposedly being washed up, Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, also deserved Pro Bowl plaudits.

Best proof that it's never too late for a breakout season: Who says running backs lose their zip as they approach 30? Not Justin Forsett. Reunited with new Baltimore Ravens coordinator Gary Kubiak and the downhill stretch running game, Forsett, 29, was just what the Ravens needed to replace discarded Ray Rice. Forsett, a sixth-year pro, had his first 1,000-yard season with 1,266 yards and a 5.4-yard per-carry average.

Worst technique: Adrian Peterson secretly recorded a phone call with NFL executive Troy Vincent – not illegal in Texas – to fuel a lawsuit over the shaky process of his NFL discipline.

Best comeback: Rolando McClain. Last spring, the former first-round pick was so out shape that he couldn't even finish a workout with the Ravens. Now he's the best playmaker on a Cowboys defense that helped win a division title.

Worst media leak: Ousted Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer apologized to his team for being an anonymous source linked to an NFL Network report built around "buyer's remorse" for that fat contract belonging to turnover-stricken quarterback Jay Cutler.

Best social statement: Michael Sam, last year's co-defensive player of the year in the Southeastern Conference, demonstrated much courage to come out before the combine and reveal that he is gay. When the Rams took him in the seventh round, he became the first openly gay player drafted into the NFL. Now, after being cut by the Rams and from the Cowboys practice squad, Sam might also consider the option of trying to prove his worth in the Canadian Football League.

Worst comeback: After seeing his one-year suspension reduced to 10 games when the NFL and NFL Players Association agreed to a new drug policy, Browns receiver Josh Gordon – who led the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards in 2013 – came back as a shell of his previous self. When the team suspended him for the finale after he missed a walk-through practice, Gordon also provided general manager Ray Farmer and coach Mike Pettine a reminder about the value of character.

Best example for seatbelt safety: Cam Newton climbed out of his mangled truck and walked away from a crash that could have been much more damaging had he not worn a seat belt. I can see a public service announcement coming that features the Carolina Panthers quarterback.

Worst candid camera moment: Ray Rice. Making a bigger impact on the NFL than one would have ever imagined.

Best neophyte coach: Bill O'Brien. The Texans coach lost his top two quarterbacks, and injuries also made the season a wash for Jadeveon Clowney, the No. 1 pick in the draft. And the Texans still came that close to making the playoffs.

Worst news conference sequence: Two days after a funky loss at Kansas City left the New England Patriots at 2-2, coach Bill Belichick responded repeatedly, "We're on to Cincinnati." Guess so. The Patriots blew out the Bengals and won 10 of their final 12 games to earn the No. 1 seed.

Best December, finally : Hello, Tony Romo.

Worst traffic stop : Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay drew a six-game suspension and gave the NFL one the many dents to its shield after being found with illegal painkilling medication during his March arrest.

Best payback: Dumped by the Panthers last spring, Ravens widout Steve Smith Sr. had a payback moment by torching Carolina for seven catches, 139 yards and two TDs in Week 4. Of course, he talked trash afterward: "I ran around those boys like they were schoolyard kids."

Worst departure: Running back LeGarrette Blount, miffed by his lack of playing time on a night in Tennessee when Le'Veon Bell rushed for 204 yards, walked out on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the middle of the game. He was cut, then immediately signed by the Patriots. Stay tuned.

Best connection: Ben Roethlisberger to Antonio Brown. The Steelers surprisingly finished the season with the NFL's No. 2-ranked offense, with highlights including Roethlisberger passing for six TDs in consecutive games and Brown posting 129 receptions, second most in a season in NFL history.

Worst stadium traffic: Take a bow, FedEx Field.

Best free agent signing:I'll take Revis Island for $12 million, Alex. I also loved the Detroit Lions' signing of Golden Tate. And I would be remiss not to point out that Chip Kelly's big loss, DeSean Jackson, was the best thing to watch amid a dismal season for the Burgundy and Gold.

Best wurst: The Cheeseheads know. There's no place better for brats than Lambeau Field.