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Tua Tagovailoa was taken by the Dolphins with the fifth pick of the 2020 NFL Draft and the Chargers took Justin Herbert one pick later, so it was inevitable that there would be comparisons between the two players.
For the first two years of those careers, many of those comparisons were more favorable to Herbert than Tagovailoa, but the Dolphins won a 2020 meeting between the teams and they head into Sunday night’s game with an 8-4 record while the Chargers are 6-6.
Tagovailoa is also averaging more yards per attempt while posting a higher completion percentage and passer rating than Herbert, but he wasn’t interested in delving into any comparisons between the two players when he spoke to reporters on Wednesday.
“I feel that I’ve been very blessed to have gotten chosen regardless of if I got chosen before him or after him,” Tagovailoa said. “I’m just happy to be where I’m at. I don’t think anything of it. I know everyone else outside of our building and fans want to make speculations about that, but, for me, I’m just very fortunate, very blessed to be in this position. I’ll let everyone else handle the talking with that and that’s my stance on it.”
A convincing win and strong performance by Tagovailoa on Sunday night would probably move some more people to Tagovailoa’s side of the fence, but it doesn’t sound like something that will be costing him much sleep. | 2022-12-08T00:05:02Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Tua Tagovailoa on Justin Herbert: Happy where I'm at, everyone else can handle the talking - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/07/tua-tagovailoa-on-justin-herbert-happy-where-im-at-everyone-else-can-handle-the-talking/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/07/tua-tagovailoa-on-justin-herbert-happy-where-im-at-everyone-else-can-handle-the-talking/ |
Even if Aaron Rodgers returns to the Packers for 2023, there’s no guarantee that he’ll be back for 2024. And there’s one specific way the Packers need to plan for that. The team believes it already has everything it needs to make that decision.
By May 3, the Packers have to decide whether to pick up the fifth-year option for quarterback Jordan Love. Meeting with reporters earlier this week, G.M. Brian Gutekunst said the organization already has what it needs to make that decision.
“We’re really pleased with his progression, and what he’s been able to do,” Gutekunst told reporters regarding Love. “I think it would be really good for him, the growth that you need to go through. Seeing things for the first time. Making the mistakes that you need to make. But I think from our end of it, we’ve seen what we need to see.”
How have they seen it, given his limited regular-season playing time?
Gutekunst was asked whether he believes Love is ready to be a starter in the NFL.
The question becomes when Love will get that chance in Green Bay. At some point, “when” will become “if.”
Either way, the next big “if” relates to whether the team will pick up Love’s option, when the deadline rolls around in less than five months. If they pick up the option, Love will be under contract at least for two more years.
5 responses to “Packers say they don’t need to see more from Jordan Love to decide on fifth-year option”
If they give him the 5th year option, the packers will be exhibit A on how to NOT handle a rookie QB contract. They’ll also be dedicating alot of cap space next year to two QBs
Aaron Brett Favre Rodgers probably has only a couple of years of mediocre play left, and that’s if he doesn’t check out early
That ball was friggin movin’. Jordan Love was whipping that thing.
Jury’s still out imo but he looked good against Philly. Not much to go on but all we got…
Hmmmmm, backpedaling on one of the worst drafting of that year? That year they had the 31 st ranked defense and horrible WRs besides Adam’s. So they draft a QB in the first round that they could have gotten in the 5th round. 👌🤣 | 2022-12-08T01:36:02Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Packers say they don't need to see more from Jordan Love to decide on fifth-year option - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/07/packers-say-they-dont-need-to-see-more-from-jordan-love-to-decide-on-fifth-year-option/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/07/packers-say-they-dont-need-to-see-more-from-jordan-love-to-decide-on-fifth-year-option/ |
Bills pass rusher Von Miller was upbeat after undergoing surgery that discovered a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He will miss the rest of the season.
“I’m good, man. I’m going to be right back, man,” Miller said in a video posted on social media. “Mentally, I couldn’t be in a better spot. That is the majority of it. Don’t feel sorry for me. Don’t say, ‘I hate it for you.’ None of that stuff. Because I am good. I’m excited for the opportunity to show my teammates how tough I am, how hard I work and how important that this means to me. . . . Don’t blink, baby. I’ll be back. Better than ever.”
Miller injured his knee in the Thanksgiving Day win over the Lions. An MRI initially delivered hope that Miller’s ACL was intact, giving him a chance to return for the postseason.
But instead of a routine procedure to reposition Miller’s lateral meniscus while cleaning up cartilage damage, Cowboys team physician Dr. Dan Cooper discovered the worst-case scenario during surgery in Dallas on Wednesday.
“I was aware that it was a possibility,” Bills General Manager Brandon Beane said, via Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. “All crossing our fingers, but you see more when you go in there, and you’re hoping it’s just a clean out of a scope and we get him back. That’s my comments from last week where we were hopeful. That’s why we went ahead and put him on IR to start the clock in hopes that he could be back. But once Dr. Cooper got in there, he felt it wasn’t gonna hold and he needed to repair it.”
Miller will spend the offseason rehabbing with the hope that he won’t miss much of 2023.
“We think if everything goes well with rehab, we’ll have him for most of 2023,” Beane said. | 2022-12-08T02:54:19Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Brandon Beane: If everything goes well with Von Miller's rehab, we'll have him for most of 2023 - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/07/brandon-beane-if-everything-goes-well-with-von-millers-rehab-well-have-him-for-most-of-2023/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/07/brandon-beane-if-everything-goes-well-with-von-millers-rehab-well-have-him-for-most-of-2023/ |
Whenever Congress investigates a private business, a chorus inevitably emerges.
Doesn’t Congress have better things to do?
Technically, it does. But Congress can multitask. Those who would prefer not to be scrutinized love to push the narrative that Congressional priorities shouldn’t include scrutinizing potential wrongdoing of that otherwise would go unscrutinized.
And those investigations can result in (drum roll) legislation. That’s what has happened as it relates to the Commanders.
Via A.J. Perez of FrontOfficeSports.com, President Joe Biden has signed into law the Speak Out Act. It affects the manner in which non-disclosure agreements are enforced in cases involving sexual assault and sexual harassment. The debate included references to the Commanders, whose toxic workplace came under the scrutiny of the House Oversight & Reform Committee.
The Committee is expected to produce a report regarding its work before the current Congress concludes its business for the year. In 2023, the Republican Party will take control of the House of Representatives and its various committees, essentially ending the investigation of the Commanders.
1 responses to “Commanders’ controversy helps spark law limiting NDAs”
This was driven much farther and for much longer by Harvey Weinstein and Donald Trump/Stormy Daniels than by the WFT investigation. One might even say that the WFT was mentioned mainly to justify the effort put into that investigation. | 2022-12-08T02:54:25Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Commanders' controversy helps spark law limiting NDAs - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/07/commanders-controversy-helps-spark-law-limiting-ndas/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/07/commanders-controversy-helps-spark-law-limiting-ndas/ |
Panthers defensive lineman Henry Anderson practiced for the first time in weeks on Wednesday and his absence from the lineup wasn’t due to a sprained ligament or broken bone.
Anderson revealed that he was placed on the non-football injury list in October because he suffered a stroke. Anderson said that he began feeling symptoms before the Week Seven game against the Buccaneers and his wife took him to the hospital when he began to slur his words.
Anderson had a procedure to remove the blood clot that caused the stroke and said on Wednesday that he feels totally recovered from something that could have been much worse.
“I mean, I didn’t really know much about strokes before it happened,” Anderson said, via the team’s website. “And then after the fact that I definitely found out a lot more about them and realize that I got pretty lucky avoiding anything serious. . . . I mean, I feel totally fine. Like I said, it’s not like an injury like a knee or shoulder or something that you’ve got to rehab and get the strength back and everything. This was just something that like, I felt pretty much back to normal as soon as they got the thing out.”
Anderson could be activated in time to play against the Seahawks this weekend. | 2022-12-08T12:07:27Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Henry Anderson back at Panthers practice after October stroke - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/08/henry-anderson-back-at-panthers-practice-after-october-stroke/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/08/henry-anderson-back-at-panthers-practice-after-october-stroke/ |
The Bills won’t have Von Miller for the rest of the 2022 season after he underwent surgery for a torn ACL.
The news was surprising when Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott announced it on Wednesday, given that there initially seemed to be plenty of optimism Miller would return at some point this year. But now the team must adjust as it continues its quest for a championship.
Second on the team with 5.0 sacks, defensive end Greg Rousseau said Wednesday that the rest of Buffalo’s edge rushers have to make sure there isn’t a drop off in production.
“It’s tough when you lose a really good player like Von, you know, but we got a lot of guys in the room and we all just need to step up,” Rousseau said, via Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. “We’re all ready for the opportunity to step up. It’s unfortunate, but I know I’ll be praying for Von and I’m wishing him a speedy recovery cause that’s our guy.
“We love Von, he’s a brother to us, so it’s sad to see him, see that he’s not gonna be out there no more, but it’s like, we got to step up, there’s no time for us to feel sorry for ourselves or none of that.”
The Bills will have a tough test against the division-rival Jets on Sunday. New York beat Buffalo 20-17 back in Week Nine. | 2022-12-08T17:51:50Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Greg Rousseau: There's no time to feel sorry for ourselves with Von Miller out - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/08/greg-rousseau-theres-no-time-to-feel-sorry-for-ourselves-with-von-miller-out/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/08/greg-rousseau-theres-no-time-to-feel-sorry-for-ourselves-with-von-miller-out/ |
Lions running back Craig Reynolds returned to practice on Thursday.
Reynolds has been designated to return from injured reserve. He missed the last four games with a rib injury.
Reynolds appeared in the first eight games of the year. He ran 23 times for 102 yards and caught nine passes for 116 yards while also playing on special teams.
He ran 55 times for 230 yards for the Lions last season. He’s also seen time with Jacksonville and Washington since entering the league in 2019.
D'Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams, and Justin Jackson have been handling the running back duties for the Lions. Detroit has run for 449 yards in the last four weeks. | 2022-12-08T19:36:12Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Craig Reynolds designated for return from IR - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/08/craig-reynolds-designated-for-return-from-ir/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/08/craig-reynolds-designated-for-return-from-ir/ |
Joe Mixon is set to return to play on Sunday after missing the last two games with a concussion.
The Bengals have been OK without him, in part due to Samaje Perine‘s strong play. He rushed for 164 yards and caught 10 passes for 84 yards in those two contests.
But Mixon still wanted to be on the field for his teammates. He told reporters on Thursday that being sideline the last two weeks was difficult for him, particularly last week as head coach Zac Taylor held him out. Mixon, however, did say he was “barely” feeling symptoms of the concussion at the end of last week.
“It was a tough conversation because I wanted to be out there and contribute with my brothers,” Mixon said, via Paul Dehner Jr. of TheAthletic.com. “[H]e made that decision, and I had no other choice but to live with it.
“As much as I wanted to go and felt like I can contribute, I feel like they made the best decision for everybody. Perine, he did a great job of stepping up and filling in.”
Now that Mixon’s back, Taylor noted that he’ll remain the starter despite Perine’s play.
“I don’t think that would’ve changed,” Mixon said. “I guess clarification for y’all, but at the same time I truly felt like with Perine being there, he definitely a great 1-2 back with me.”
Mixon has rushed for 605 yards with six touchdowns and caught 41 passes for 314 yards with two TDs this season. | 2022-12-08T19:36:27Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Joe Mixon: As much as I wanted to contribute, Bengals made the best decision for everybody - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/08/joe-mixon-as-much-as-i-wanted-to-contribute-bengals-made-the-best-decision-for-everybody/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/08/joe-mixon-as-much-as-i-wanted-to-contribute-bengals-made-the-best-decision-for-everybody/ |
The Rams announced a couple of additions to their roster for Thursday night’s game against the Raiders.
The team has promoted running back Malcolm Brown and defensive lineman Earnest Brown from the practice squad. Both players will revert back to the practice squad after the game.
Malcolm Brown has been on and off the active roster multiple times this year. He has 14 carries for 34 yards and two catches for 23 yards in six games. He will join Cam Akers, Kyren Williams, and Ronnie Rivers as backfield options for the NFC West club.
Earnest Brown was a fifth-round pick last year. He has not appeared in any regular season games to this point in his career.
1 responses to “Rams elevate Malcolm Brown, Earnest Brown for Thursday night”
What about Rufus T Brown, and James Brown? Good God! | 2022-12-08T22:09:05Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Rams elevate Malcolm Brown, Earnest Brown for Thursday night - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/08/rams-elevate-malcolm-brown-earnest-brown-for-thursday-night/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/08/rams-elevate-malcolm-brown-earnest-brown-for-thursday-night/ |
Notre Dame defensive end Isaiah Foskey declares for 2023 NFL draft
Notre Dame defensive end Isaiah Foskey is turning pro.
On Thursday, Foskey announced his decision to enter the 2023 NFL draft. He will not play for the Irish in the Gator Bowl against South Carolina.
Foskey, the school’s career leader in sacks, is projected as an early round draft pick.
The 6-foot-5, 265-pound junior made 26.5 career sacks, breaking Justin Tuck’s school record. Foskey also made 122 career tackles, including 31.5 for loss, and seven forced fumbles.
Foskey totaled 11 sacks in each of his final two seasons at Notre Dame, the third-highest total in team history. | 2022-12-09T01:50:26Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Notre Dame defensive end Isaiah Foskey declares for 2023 NFL draft - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/08/notre-dame-defensive-end-isaiah-foskey-declares-for-2023-nfl-draft/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/08/notre-dame-defensive-end-isaiah-foskey-declares-for-2023-nfl-draft/ |
Since the Texans decided to move on from Deshaun Watson before last season, they have had three different starting quarterbacks. Davis Mills has started 21 of the 29 games.
He was benched for Kyle Allen the past two weeks, but Allen was worse than Mills. Allen went 46-of-78 for 416 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions in losses to the Dolphins and Browns.
So, Mills returns to the starting lineup this week against the Cowboys, who are 17-point favorites.
“I’m still a very confident player,” Mills said, via Deepi Sidhu of the team website. “[I] didn’t lose any confidence in these two weeks. I’m excited to get out there on Sunday.”
The Texans had a chance to sign a starting quarterback in free agency or pick one in the draft. They didn’t. Instead, they decided to stick with Mills, who started 11 games last season.
They now are on track to have the No. 1 overall selection in 2023, with Alabama quarterback Bryce Young the favorite to end up as the team’s next franchise quarterback.
So, Mills likely is in his final games as the team’s starter.
A year ago, he was much better in his final five starts (nine touchdowns, two interceptions) than he was his first six starts (six touchdowns, seven interceptions). Mills is hoping for the same improvement to close out this season.
“You’re just trying to continue to progress as the season goes, but these last two weeks really allowed me to sit back and kind of start piecing some more things together in my mind of what it takes to be successful out there,” Mills said. “Hopefully, we can fall back to those fundamentals that I’ve been doing my whole life and as Pep’s taught me since I’ve been here in Houston to go out there and play successful football.”
4 responses to “Davis Mills: I’m still a very confident player”
Trade back for a load of picks and give Mills something to work with.
Bryce Young will snap in two. And even if he doesn’t, he will never be an adequate pocket passer (and eventually one needs to be, just ask Russell Wilson). This is not the great QB class people thought it would be.
When you have to remind yourself and everyone else that’s not confidence.
Sell the Texans to Tom Brady.
The current owners don’t have a clue…. | 2022-12-09T03:34:47Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Davis Mills: I'm still a very confident player - | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/08/davis-mills-im-still-a-very-confident-player/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/08/davis-mills-im-still-a-very-confident-player/ |
They could use another veteran receiver to go with CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup.
“James just wants to play,” Gallup said. “He came here just trying to do that because he was sitting up there in Pittsburgh. He didn’t really get all the opportunities he needed. Now, he can get some down here. He just wants to play. I know he’s got that energy up in him. It will be good to see. Hopefully, he’s up this week.” | 2022-12-09T03:34:53Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | James Washington could return this week: It's kind of like a kid waiting on Christmas - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/08/james-washington-could-return-this-week-its-kind-of-like-a-kid-waiting-on-christmas/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/08/james-washington-could-return-this-week-its-kind-of-like-a-kid-waiting-on-christmas/ |
He came, he saw, he decided to stay where he is.
Former Cowboys coach Jason Garrett, currently working at NBC, confirmed late Thursday night on Twitter that he interviewed for the vacancy at Stanford, but that he’ll stay put at NBC.
“Thanks so much to AD Bernard Muir and everyone at Stanford,” Garrett tweeted. “While I enjoyed exploring a great opportunity at such a special place, I’m so excited to continue my work at NBC on Football Night in America and with Notre Dame Football!”
Garrett coached the Cowboys from 2011 through 2019. After two years as offensive coordinator with the Giants, he joined NBC.
It remains to be seen whether his name emerges in connection with any of the various NFL openings that inevitably will emerge for 2023. Two vacancies currently exist (Carolina and Indianapolis), and there likely will be more. | 2022-12-09T05:19:14Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | After Stanford interview, Jason Garrett says he'll stay at NBC - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/08/after-stanford-interview-jason-garrett-says-hell-stay-at-nbc/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/08/after-stanford-interview-jason-garrett-says-hell-stay-at-nbc/ |
Head coach Sean McVay and the Rams somehow got Baker Mayfield ready to play for Thursday night — and the quarterback excelled.
Despite getting to Southern California on Tuesday night and going through just one brief practice on Wednesday, Mayfield was able to engineer a game-winning, 98-yard drive that ended with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Van Jefferson.
“You can’t say enough about Baker Mayfield and the leadership, the resilience, the competitiveness,” McVay said postgame. “And what a quick study — I mean, he just got here five minutes ago. He figured out a way to be able to do some special things tonight.”
McVay noted that there was some significant concept carryover from some of Mayfield’s previous offensive systems. The quarterback himself noted that the protections were similar to what he was doing in Cleveland for the last couple of years.
Mayfield didn’t start, but McVay said he intended to bring Mayfield in on the second drive to see if he could provide a spark. Mayfield did that and played for the rest of the game over John Wolford.
McVay noted he wasn’t necessarily surprised by anything Mayfield did. But he did come away really impressed, given the circumstances.
Mayfield will now have a little extra time to learn more of the Rams’ offense before the team takes on the Packers on Monday night in Week 15. | 2022-12-09T06:55:11Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Sean McVay: It was a lot of fun watching Baker Mayfield go to work tonight - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/sean-mcvay-it-was-a-lot-of-fun-watching-baker-mayfield-go-to-work-tonight/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/sean-mcvay-it-was-a-lot-of-fun-watching-baker-mayfield-go-to-work-tonight/ |
Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada has heard a lot of criticism this season, but things have been a bit quieter for him in recent weeks.
The Steelers were 2-6 when they returned from their bye, but they’ve won three of four games while averaging 23.3 points, 351 yards, and 161.3 rushing yards per game. Canada said on Thursday that he doesn’t think there’s been a “dramatic change” in the unit over that period of time.
Canada instead credits the team’s continued improvement and comfort in the scheme as the reasons for the uptick in production.
“We’re not a finished product in any way, shape or form,” Canada said, via Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “But I do think you’re starting to see our players more importantly, which is really all that matters, are starting to see why we’re doing it, how this fits, what their roles are. There’s not a real magic formula to it. Sometimes you wish there was. I’m not going to say me, but I think we as a staff have stayed the course. We know why we’re doing what we’re doing. We know why we’re running the plays we’re running. We know who we’re trying to get the ball to. It doesn’t always show up and nobody outside of the building maybe understands why, but you just have to keep doing what I believe is right.”
The Steelers have pumped some life into their playoff hopes over the last four weeks and the offensive improvement has played a big role in that. Should that continue against the Ravens this weekend, the Steelers will have a ton of momentum heading into the final games of the year.
1 responses to “Matt Canada: No magic formula to improve, we’ve stayed the course offensively”
The offense still stinks. They’ve played weaker teams. That’s the “improvement”. They’re not finishing drives, they have very limited big play potential, they can’t keep their tired defense off the field. But as long as they are playing the NFC south, that’s fine. | 2022-12-09T14:53:45Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Matt Canada: No magic formula to improve, we've stayed the course offensively - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/matt-canada-no-magic-formula-weve-stayed-the-course-offensively/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/matt-canada-no-magic-formula-weve-stayed-the-course-offensively/ |
The NFL Players Association announced on Friday that Panthers punter Johnny Hekker has been named their Community MVP for this week.
Hekker hosted a pair of events this week for kids in the Charlotte area. Hekker hosted a shopping spree for 30 kids from the Matthews Police Activities League on December 5 that saw each kid receive a gift card for sports gear and enjoy a dinner provided by Hekker.
On December 6, Hekker teamed with the Special Olympics to take 30 more kids for a day of bowling, pizza, and other activities.
“I can’t thank the organizations we have been able to partner with enough,” Hekker said in a statement. “Their impact on the community is far-reaching beyond the few events we have been able to host.”
The NFLPA will donate $10,000 to a foundation or charity of Hekker’s choice. He’ll also join the other weekly winners in being eligible for the Alan Page Community Award at the end of the season. | 2022-12-09T16:47:07Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Johnny Hekker named NFLPA Community MVP for Week 14 - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/johnny-hekker-named-nflpa-community-mvp-for-week-14/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/johnny-hekker-named-nflpa-community-mvp-for-week-14/ |
The Giants added running back Saquon Barkley to their injury report on Thursday and apparently, there’s concern about his potential availability for Sunday’s game against the Eagles.
Via Charlotte Carroll of TheAthletic.com, head coach Brian Daboll said on Friday that Barkley’s neck is “a little sore” given that it’s Week 14.
When asked if Barkley will play on Sunday, Daboll said, “I hope so.” And he noted, “Probably got to see” when asked if there was any doubt about Barkley’s availability.
The running back has been on the field for all 12 games this season, recording 282 touches for 1,296 yards and eight touchdowns.
New York’s full injury report with game statuses will be released later on Friday, but it seems as if Barkley will at least have a questionable designation. | 2022-12-09T17:26:11Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Brian Daboll says Saquon Barkley's neck is "a little sore," but hopes he plays Sunday - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/brian-daboll-says-saquon-barkleys-neck-is-a-little-sore-but-hopes-he-plays-sunday/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/brian-daboll-says-saquon-barkleys-neck-is-a-little-sore-but-hopes-he-plays-sunday/ |
Trevor Lawrence set to practice Friday
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence missed practice the last two days, but that’s set to change on Friday.
Head coach Doug Pederson told reporters before the session that Lawrence will take part in his first practice work of the week. Lawrence is dealing with a toe injury.
Lawrence said earlier this week that he will play against the Titans despite the injury and Friday’s return to practice is a good sign that things are still on track on that front.
The final injury report of the week will come out later on Friday. Lawrence may be listed as questionable, but if all goes well in his return to the field it’s hard to imagine he will be anywhere other than the starting lineup come Sunday. | 2022-12-09T17:26:17Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Trevor Lawrence set to practice Friday - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/trevor-lawrence-set-to-practice-friday/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/trevor-lawrence-set-to-practice-friday/ |
The folks in Vegas like the Lions this week.
Detroit is generally favored by 1.5 points in Sunday’s matchup against division rival Minnesota. It’s apparently the first time in the Super Bowl era that a 10-2 team has been an underdog to a 5-7 team.
The Lions have been playing better as of late, winning four of their last five after starting 1-6. But to be favored over the current No. 2 seed in the conference?
“I really don’t even know how to respond to that. I’m shocked by that,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said in his Friday press conference. “But, there again, all those things don’t matter. Point spread, who’s favored — this team finds ways to win. And if we’re not ready to go and we don’t handle our business…
“It’s going to take every one of us — coaches and players — to win this game. You know? That’s what I do know. Because they’ve got plenty over there. And again, a team that finds ways to win, those are dangerous teams.”
The Vikings beat the Lions 28-24 in Week Three, in part due to a call that Campbell said this week he’ll regret until he dies. But Campbell doesn’t necessarily see being favored over the Vikings this week as a sign of respect.
“No, it’s the same people that [said] we were trash when we were 1-6. So, it’s irrelevant,” Campbell said. “And if we don’t win this game, then it’s back to, ‘Well, we’re not what we were,’ and ‘It’s a fluke,’ and blah, blah, blah. So, it’s all about, man, the next game — right in front of us. That’s all we can worry about.”
We’ll see if the Lions can prove the oddsmakers right on Sunday afternoon.
3 responses to “Dan Campbell on Lions being favored over Vikings: I’m shocked by that”
As a Vikings fan, DC is correct. Media is just the media. What matters is the W column. This will be a good game, but I do think the Lions take this one.
Vegas is pulling a fast one. They are trying to sucker the public somehow. Do they want the public on the Vikings cause they know something or are they trying to take advantage of the goodwill Detroit has earned lately?
No. I already got Vikes winning. | 2022-12-09T18:35:55Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Dan Campbell on Lions being favored over Vikings: I'm shocked by that - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/dan-campbell-on-lions-being-favored-over-vikings-im-shocked-by-that/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/dan-campbell-on-lions-being-favored-over-vikings-im-shocked-by-that/ |
Chiefs midseason acquisition Kadarius Toney made an impact in his first couple of weeks with the team. But the receiver has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury.
It’s still unclear whether or not he’ll be back for Sunday’s game against the Broncos.
While Toney has been participating in practice, head coach Andy Reid noted it’s no sure thing Toney will play.
Toney has accounted for 102 yards and a touchdown on eight touches in his three games with the Chiefs.
It sounds like Toney will be questionable for Sunday. But his status will become official when Kansas City releases its Friday injury report later in the day. | 2022-12-09T20:16:11Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Andy Reid: Kadarius Toney "right there on the border" of playing this week - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/andy-reid-kadarius-toney-right-there-on-the-border-of-playing-this-week/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/andy-reid-kadarius-toney-right-there-on-the-border-of-playing-this-week/ |
The Vikings could be getting left tackle Christian Darrisaw back this Sunday.
Darrisaw has missed the last two games with a concussion, but he practiced all of this week and head coach Kevin O’Connell said that he has cleared the protocol. The team still listed him as questionable, but it seems like there’s a good chance that he’ll be back on the field.
Safety Harrison Smith is also listed as questionable. Smith missed practice Wednesday with an illness, but O’Connell said a neck issue is the reason for the designation.
Defensive end Jonathan Bullard (bicep) is the only player who has been ruled out. Center Garrett Bradbury (back) joins Darrisaw and Smith in the questionable category. | 2022-12-09T20:16:17Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Christian Darrisaw, Harrison Smith questionable for Vikings - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/christian-darrisaw-harrison-smith-questionable-for-vikings/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/christian-darrisaw-harrison-smith-questionable-for-vikings/ |
For those of you who have been keeping up with On Our Way Home, you’re officially halfway home.
The sixteenth chapter was posted today. There are 16 more to go.
And 16 is an important number, as it relates to the all-in-one-place scrolling option. When you get to the bottom of the first page and see the end of Chapter 15, you’ll need to click on “next” to get to Chapter 16.
If you’re using the chapter-by-chapter landing page, it’s not an issue; the link to every chapter is already there.
I’d originally mapped it out to so that the first chapter would be posted on Thanksgiving, and that the last one would be posted on Christmas Day. But I’ve heard from some who plan to start only after all of it is posted, because they want to be able to read it at their own pace, without ever waiting for new content. For that reason, I’ll start posting two chapters on certain days, with the goal of having it fully posted long enough before Christmas to permit it to be read while fully in the pre-Christmas buzz.
So what the hell? Chapter 17 is coming tonight. And Chapter 18 is coming tomorrow morning. And maybe Chapter 19 is coming tomorrow night. Either way, stay tuned. | 2022-12-09T22:00:42Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | On Our Way Home is halfway home - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/on-our-way-home-is-halfway-home/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/on-our-way-home-is-halfway-home/ |
Seahawks safety Jamal Adams returned to the team’s training facility Friday for a check-in with the athletic training staff.
Adams is three months into his rehab following surgery to repair a torn quadriceps tendon and damaged knee.
“We saw Jamal out here for the first time in a bit,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said, via John Boyle of the team website. “It was great to see him. He’s back here to check in with the trainers and make sure everything’s on track, which we know it is. It’s just good to see him back, and having that spirit around that building is great. We miss him.”
Adams played only 15 snaps in the opener before his injury, which ended his season.
Carroll said Adams is “making good progress” in his rehab.
“It’s been a while [since his injury],” Carroll said. “This is a hard recovery. It’s really taxing. He’s been through a lot. He’d tell you. It’s been rigorous to get back where he’s really walking and he’s up on it and going and all that. He’s got a big old zipper on his knee and all that. This injury in particular is a difficult one. It’s a challenging one. But he’s doing great, and he’s happy about it now. He’s finally going and really can feel the progress and start getting strong again and all that.”
Adams underwent shoulder and finger surgeries the past two seasons, missing four games in 2020 and five in 2021. The Seahawks traded two first-round draft selections to the Jets to get him in 2020 and since have handed him a new, $70 million contract that runs through the 2025 season.
2 responses to “Jamal Adams is “making good progress” in his rehab”
jamal adams…bawahah!
It’s too bad what happened to Jamal.
But when you mess with the bull, you get the horns.
And that’s what he did trying to tackle first ballot HOF QB Russell Wilson.
He doesn’t try to injure other players. But when you run into granite, you find out it has no give. | 2022-12-10T02:12:44Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Jamal Adams is "making good progress" in his rehab - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/jamal-adams-is-making-good-progress-in-his-rehab/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/jamal-adams-is-making-good-progress-in-his-rehab/ |
Baker Mayfield‘s tenure in Cleveland did not end well, but one of his former teammates is rooting for him after his spectacular comeback on Thursday night.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, who played with Mayfield for four years in Cleveland, said he went to bed on Thursday night with Mayfield’s Rams trailing 16-3 but didn’t doubt Mayfield was capable of bringing the Rams back, which he did in a 17-16 win over the Raiders.
“I’m not going to lie, I didn’t see half of it,” Garrett said, via the Akron Beacon Journal. “I went to sleep at the end of the third. I was like, [16-3], new team, maybe he’ll get them next week. I went to sleep, I woke up. Right before I went to sleep, I was with my [physical therapist] John, I said, ‘Maybe you should stay up. There is a possibility he could bring them back. You let me know in the morning.’ So I wake up and there’s a text waiting on me like, ‘You won’t believe it.’ I said, yeah I will.”
Garrett said he watched the comeback in the morning and was impressed with what Mayfield did.
“I mean, it was [impressive],” Garrett said. “And going back to watch it, he was putting some dimes out there for guys to go get early on in the game and it was just that time until it clicked. So I have nothing against the guy now. I’m hoping for his success wherever he’s at.”
Mayfield becomes a free agent in March, and no one knows where he’ll play next year, but things have started well with his third team, and it’s impressing teammates from his first team. | 2022-12-10T11:20:58Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Myles Garrett says he's impressed and not surprised by Baker Mayfield's performance - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/10/myles-garrett-says-hes-impressed-and-not-surprised-by-baker-mayfields-performance/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/10/myles-garrett-says-hes-impressed-and-not-surprised-by-baker-mayfields-performance/ |
Dysfunctional teams do dysfunctional things. The reverse is also true.
The Titans showed they’re not dysfunctional this week by choosing to fire G.M. Jon Robinson the moment owner Amy Adams Strunk decided to do it.
“At the end of the day, I’ve got to make hard decisions,” Strunk told Teresa M. Walker of the Associated Press on Friday. “Once I made the decision, I was like, ’I can’t sit on it. I’ve got to go ahead and do it to be fair to Jon.′ I don’t know how many weeks we have left in the season. There could be a lot more hopefully in our season, and it just didn’t seem like the right thing to do to drag this along.”
Four years ago, when the Packers fired coach Mike McCarthy in early December, some saw it as a sign of disrespect. The truth is that it’s more respectful to not act like all is well, while the process has commenced of considering candidates for replace the current coach.
Ditto for the Titans. And it will be interesting to see what they do next.
“It gives us plenty of opportunity now to identify future candidates that we’re going to interview, to watch the internal candidates,” Strunk said in a video accompanying the article.
There has been no reporting or commentary to refute the idea that Robinson lost a power struggle with coach Mike Vrabel, and that the performance of former Titans receiver A.J. Brown in Week 13 was the catalyst for Strunk siding with Vrabel. If so, Vrabel looms over the upcoming search process.
Vrabel may have plenty of power now, and whoever takes the job will be subject to Vrabel emerging from the squabble as the man in charge of the football operations.
And, yes, some will say that the mere timing of the decision and its implementation suggest dysfunction. The more accurate assessment is that it would have been dysfunctional to allow a bad situation to continue to exist — especially after Strunk decided to make a major change. | 2022-12-10T14:28:05Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Amy Adams Strunk saw no reason to wait, once she decided to fire G.M. Jon Robinson - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/10/amy-adams-strunk-saw-no-reason-to-wait-once-she-decided-to-fire-g-m-jon-robinson/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/10/amy-adams-strunk-saw-no-reason-to-wait-once-she-decided-to-fire-g-m-jon-robinson/ |
3 responses to “Matthew Stafford won’t need an offseason procedure”
Those 450+ sacks he’s taken in his career are showing…
When you trade for a guy who is clearly capable, but on the back side of his career and has already suffered debilitating injuries (like Stafford who has broken his back, maybe more than once), that all needs to be figured into his value when making the trade offer. I do not believe the Rams ever did that. They totally got a warrior, very talented, can play the game, but was also severely damaged goods. We’re seeing that now. I believe Detroit got the better of that deal.
Stafford is clearly operating on borrowed time. It is time to find a plan B. | 2022-12-10T17:17:50Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Matthew Stafford won't need an offseason procedure - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/10/matthew-stafford-wont-need-an-offseason-procedure/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/10/matthew-stafford-wont-need-an-offseason-procedure/ |
After the NFL cracked down on the Saints for defensive end Cameron Jordan allegedly faking an injury, the team has issued a statement strongly denying Jordan was faking.
The team says Jordan was genuinely hurt when he went down on the field, causing the officials to call an injury timeout as the Buccaneers were rushing to the line of scrimmage, and the team says there’s documentation that Jordan has been getting treatment on his foot since.
“The New Orleans Saints deny any allegations of purposefully delaying the game on Monday evening,” the team’s statement says. “Defensive end Cameron Jordan felt foot pain following a third down play and sought medical attention. He entered the blue medical tent and was examined by the medical staff and following the examination he was taped and able to finish the game. He had an MRI performed the following day in New Orleans and was confirmed that he suffered an acute mid-foot sprain in his left foot. He has been at the facility each day receiving treatment for his injury he suffered on the play. The Saints will appeal the fines through the proper channels and believe the allegations will be proved incorrect.”
Jordan was fined $50,000, position coach Ryan Nielsen was fined $50,000, head coach Dennis Allen was fined $100,000 and the Saints franchise was fined $350,000. The NFL warned teams last week that it was going to take faking injuries seriously and issue significant discipline, but the Saints claim the league missed the mark.
1 responses to “Saints deny Cameron Jordan faked injury, say he is receiving treatment for foot sprain”
ARod is taking notes. Foot sprain, that’s what I have next game. | 2022-12-10T20:20:35Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Saints deny Cameron Jordan faked injury, say he is receiving treatment for foot sprain - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/10/saints-deny-cameron-jordan-faked-injury-say-he-is-receiving-treatment-for-foot-sprain/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/10/saints-deny-cameron-jordan-faked-injury-say-he-is-receiving-treatment-for-foot-sprain/ |
Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette is ready to play today.
Fournette, listed as questionable with a foot injury, will play against the 49ers, according to multiple reports.
Fournette leads the Buccaneers with 145 carries for 511 yards and three touchdowns, and is also third on the team with 49 catches for 347 yards.
The Buccaneers are 3.5-point underdogs today at San Francisco in a matchup of the NFC South leaders against the NFC West leaders. | 2022-12-11T13:05:42Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Leonard Fournette good to go today - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/11/leonard-fournette-good-to-go-today/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/11/leonard-fournette-good-to-go-today/ |
But for a non-contact ACL tear during the first half of Super Bowl LVI, receiver Odell Beckham Jr. possibly would have won the MVP award for the game — and definitely would have set himself up for a major free-agent contract in March. The injury occurred, however, and it derailed everything.
It’s still impacting his options, as he continues to recover from that injury.
Beckham entered his second annual in-season free agency tour reportedly expecting a multi-year deal worth $20 million per year. But then the visits began. He refused to work out for teams, which isn’t the way to get Mike Williams money. And then Beckham said Thursday night that he doesn’t see the point in playing in the regular season, that he wants to play in the playoffs.
At one point, he reportedly was going to be playing by the middle of November. Then, the timeline was moved to the middle of December. Now, the middle of December is here and, per NFL Media, there’s no timeline at all.
Beckham could be coming to the realization that he won’t get the deal he wants, and that he’ll have to either play in the 2022 postseason to set himself up for 2023 free agency or just wait until after the 2022 season.
But here’s the problem. Who will give him $20 million per year for 2023, if he doesn’t play at all in 2022? Probably no one.
And that opens up a third option, one that Beckham won’t like. Based on where things currently are, he quite possibly will have to sign a one-year deal in 2023, hopeful that he can then cash in a year later. (And if he gets a multi-year deal for 2023, it quite possibly will be a one-year deal masquerading as something more than that, to help Beckham save face.)
The lesson is that even a star player like OBJ gets treated like an interchangeable part by teams that are making cold, calculating decisions without regard to who they are or what they’ve done in the past.
The past is always the past for NFL teams. People say it’s a “what have you done for me lately?” league. It’s not. It’s “what are you doing for me right now, and what can I expect you to do for me tomorrow?”
With the answer to both questions from Beckham currently being “not a damn thing,” it’s really no surprise that not a damn thing is happening.
3 responses to “Odell Beckham’s in-season free agency sputters”
jdphx says:
And dude is already on the wrong side of 30.
Maybe Cleveland will give him guaranteed $20M contract?
Early in his career the drama helped him make money. The opposite is true now. | 2022-12-11T14:58:52Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Odell Beckham's in-season free agency sputters - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/11/odell-beckhams-in-season-free-agency-sputters/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/11/odell-beckhams-in-season-free-agency-sputters/ |
There’s only one way to beat the Vikings — blow them out. If it’s close, the Vikings quite possibly will find a way to win.
In those coin-flip moments, they’ve won the toss every time this year, with a 9-0 record in one-score games.
Today, it continues in Detroit, where the Lions are favored. In large part because few believe that the Vikings can keep doing what they’ve done all year long.
The Vikings believe it, however. After the Week 13 win over the Jets, cornerback Patrick Peterson explained the mindset that permeates the team’s defense.
The defensive players see themselves as “closers,” Peterson told me. Every one of them.
“All eleven guys out there believe that they can make the play,” Peterson said. “We don’t know who’s going to make it, but we know somebody’s gonna make it.”
One week, it’s Peterson. Another week, it’s Camryn Bynum. Another week, it’s Cameron Dantzler.
And if the Vikings are trailing late, it’s the offense that needs to make the play. Again, they have the confidence to do it.
The ability of the Vikings to keep finding ways to win has created a sense of confidence and optimism among Minnesota’s players. Peterson also is starting to notice that Minnesota’s 2022 track record is making the opponent leery about the Vikings making a game-winning play when the game is on the line.
“I’m starting to feel that more and more each and every week,” Peterson said. “More and more we’re starting to be in this position because I’m sure coming into the game that they’re talking about it. ‘We don’t wanna hurt ourselves by turning the ball over in the fourth quarter, turning the ball over in the red zone.’
“I just really feel that this defense, this team is just so optimistic. Just so many things can happen and so many guys can make it happen, you know? [G.M.] Kwesi [Adofo-Mensah] did a great job of building this team. [Coach Kevin O’Connell] did a great job of coming in here and being the head of this thing and making sure that guys understand the position that we’re in don’t come around very often. So, let’s enjoy this moment and let’s continue to relish this moment.”
The next moment is coming today. Many believe the bubble will burst. If it’s close at the end, the Vikings will believe that someone will find a way to save the day. Again.
If it happens today, they’ll clinch the NFC North title with four weeks to go. And they’ll keep chasing the Eagles for the No. 1 seed in the conference.
8 responses to “Can the Vikings keep the magic happening?”
Regardless of what they do in the regular season, you can always expect the Vikes will lose when it matters most.
Too bad for Vikings they didn’t trade for first ballot HOF QB Russell Wilson.
Watching him in Denver makes any sane person understand, the purple would be undefeated with Mr. Unlimited under center.
Not today boys! Ford Field is about to be hell for the Vikings!
I kind of feel like they get rolled today. Lose by double digits.
Vikings. The team nobody wants to meet in the playoffs. Doubt them at your own risk.
Living here in minny not a vike fan but I’ve watched as the GM and staff have worked hard to plug holes. Top free agent here, top rookie receiver there. Now not only are the starters talented, the key, the second string and third are too. They are the kc of the NFC.
Their 5hird string running back is as good as many first. That takes scouting and player evaluation talent.KC has this also.They find talent to fill holes.
No. The big choke starts today
The Vikings WILL go to the Super Bowl this year. Mark my words. | 2022-12-11T16:34:29Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Can the Vikings keep the magic happening? - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/11/can-the-vikings-keep-the-magic-happening/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/11/can-the-vikings-keep-the-magic-happening/ |
The Jets couldn’t get on the scoreboard in the first half of Sunday’s game, but they didn’t need much time to remedy that in the second half.
Rookie running back Zonovan Knight capped the first possession of the third quarter with a 13-yard touchdown run. It was the longest run of the day for the Jets and pulls them into a 7-7 tie with the AFC East leaders.
Quarterback Mike White hooked up with Garrett Wilson and Braxton Berrios for key third down conversions on the drive. He also hit Denzel Mims for another first down as the the Jets put together their best offensive drive of the day.
The Jets confirmed that they’ll be without defensive tackle Quinnen Williams for the rest of the day with a calf injury, so their defense will be missing a big piece as they try for a season sweep of the Bills. | 2022-12-11T21:13:10Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Jets tie Bills on Zonovan Knight touchdown run - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/11/jets-tie-bills-on-zonovan-knight-touchdown-run/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/11/jets-tie-bills-on-zonovan-knight-touchdown-run/ |
After getting down 14-7 late in the first quarter, the Jaguars have scored 20 straight points to go ahead 27-14.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence used a stiff arm to get enough separation to get himself into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown to cap the team’s first drive of the second half.
That play finished a 12-play, 72-yard possession that took 7:07 off the clock.
Lawrence was able to convert the one third down the offense faced with a 9-yard pass to Zay Jones.
Early in the third quarter, Lawrence is 23-of-31 for 264 yards with a pair of touchdowns — good for a 120.9 passer rating. Evan Engram has caught eight passes for 110 yards with a TD and Jones has seven catches for 75 yards with a TD.
The Jaguars have forced three turnovers on the Titans, which has allowed them to gain control of the game. | 2022-12-11T21:13:41Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Trevor Lawrence touchdown gives Jaguars 27-14 lead - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/11/trevor-lawrence-touchdown-gives-jaguars-27-14-lead/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/11/trevor-lawrence-touchdown-gives-jaguars-27-14-lead/ |
Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams did not return to Sunday’s game after a non-contact injury to his calf in the first half, but the team does not expect him to be out for an extended period of time.
Head coach Robert Saleh said that the team’s training staff told him that Williams avoided a serious injury and that he could be back in action as soon as the team’s Week 15 game against the Lions.
“What I got right now is day-to-day. From the trainers. He’s got a chance to make it this week,” Saleh said, via SNY.
A quick return for Williams would be great news for the Jets. He had two sacks of Josh Allen in Sunday’s 20-12 loss and has been one of the key pieces of an excellent Jets defense all season.
3 responses to “Jets call Quinnen Williams day-to-day with calf injury”
Apparently he’s getting scans at the hospital so not 100% out of the woods yet but this is extremely encouraging news for the Jets.
Quinnen’s had an All-Pro year and about to land a very nice contract extension for himself. Hopefully he’s alright and ready to go next weekend.
Game changed once he left. Message to Brandon Beane, please bring in elite offensive linemen to block for Allen. Can’t fill an o-line with nothing but mediocre and expect allen to make miracles week in and week out. | 2022-12-11T22:40:34Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Jets call Quinnen Williams day-to-day with calf injury - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/11/jets-call-quinnen-williams-day-to-day-with-calf-injury/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/11/jets-call-quinnen-williams-day-to-day-with-calf-injury/ |
Giants running back Saquon Barkley didn’t play much in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles, but he and head coach Brian Daboll said after the game that his limited action was not due to his neck injury.
Barkley was listed as questionable heading into the weekend and Barkley said on Sunday that he suffered a stinger in practice on Wednesday. He got the green light to play after a pregame workout, but was only on the field for 20 offensive snaps and said that it was because the Eagles were blowing the Giants out in the second half.
“Obviously I would have loved to have played a lot more,” Barkley said, via Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. “The reason why I didn’t play as much was not because of my neck. The Eagles played great. We got our ass whooped and we just got to do better as a team. It starts with the leaders and it starts with myself.”
Daboll said that the team had a plan in place to manage Barkley’s reps, but that it went overboard once it was clear the Giants weren’t going to come back. The Giants will now turn toward making sure Barkley is closer to 100 percent for what they hope will be a more competitive performance against the Commanders in Week 15. | 2022-12-11T22:41:23Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Saquon Barkley, Giants say limited playing time was due to score not injury - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/11/saquon-barkley-giants-say-limited-playing-time-was-due-to-score-not-injury/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/11/saquon-barkley-giants-say-limited-playing-time-was-due-to-score-not-injury/ |
The Lions opened the season with six losses in their first seven games and it was easy to believe that this would be the latest in a long line of subpar years in Detroit.
It looks a lot different for the team right now, however. Sunday’s 34-23 win over the Vikings was the Lions’ fifth in their last six games and it leaves them with real playoff hopes heading into the final four weeks of the regular season. It’s a big change for a team that always seemed to find a way to make a killer mistake and it’s one that head coach Dan Campbell believes has eliminated any thought that the Lions can’t compete with the best teams in the league.
“I’ve said it before, it’s hard when you get down in the dumps and you were where we were at, it’s easy to lose faith,” Campbell said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “But these guys never did and we stayed true to what we’re about and they knew, they believed we were one play away and that’s where we’ve been. And so now we’re making the play, we’re making the one extra play. It’s not costing us. And we’re able to overcome some of these mistakes we were making earlier. So, no, our guys, they know they belong. They know when they play football like we’ve been playing the last six weeks, we can play with anybody. That’s the truth.”
Week 15 brings a matchup with a Jets team that’s also trying to overcome historical futility by making a playoff run this season, but the Lions will be the ones riding a winning streak into one of the most compelling games on next Sunday’s schedule. | 2022-12-12T12:22:16Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Dan Campbell: Lions know they belong - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/dan-campbell-lions-know-they-belong/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/dan-campbell-lions-know-they-belong/ |
The Eagles became the first team in the league to clinch a playoff spot when they throttled the Giants on Sunday.
Their 48-22 win moved them to 12-1 on the season and followed a formula that they’ve been using all season. The offense showed great balance while churning up 437 yards and the defense racked up seven sacks as the Eagles raced out to a big lead that they would never relinquish.
Running back Miles Sanders reached 1,000 rushing yards during the win and said after it was over that the Eagles are enjoying every moment of their run to the top of the NFC.
“We’re having so much fun out there,” Sanders said, via the team’s website. “That’s really what it is. This is just fun. We’re executing at a high level and having fun and complementing each other. That’s what it’s all about.”
The Eagles still have work to do in order to secure the NFC East and the top seed in the conference for the playoffs, but there’s little reason to think they won’t be able to pull it off given how well they’ve been playing this season. | 2022-12-12T12:22:28Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Miles Sanders: We're executing at a high level and having so much fun out there - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/miles-sanders-were-executing-at-a-high-level-and-having-so-much-fun-out-there/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/miles-sanders-were-executing-at-a-high-level-and-having-so-much-fun-out-there/ |
The Titans lost their third straight game on Sunday and their pass defense has been a major culprit in all three games.
They have allowed 1,018 passing yards and seven touchdowns over the course of the three losses and they’re recorded three sacks after posting 30 in their first 10 games this season. That has allowed teams to abandon the run in order to attack the Titans through the air and that’s not going to change until the Titans show they have the right answers.
Linebacker Bud Dupree said on Sunday that the team needs to make mental changes in order to change what’s happening on the field.
“The quarterback’s not going to sit back there and let you hit him all day,” Dupree said, via Nick Suss of the Tennessean. “They’re going to have checkdowns. They’re going to have quick throws and quick reads, and that first read they’re going to try to go to it each and every time. Knowing that and being able to identify that, we have to come in here with a different mindset that we’ve got to win faster.”
Justin Herbert and the Chargers are on deck for the Titans, so this would be a good week for the team to adopt the kind of mindset that Dupree thinks they need to turn things around down the stretch.
1 responses to “Bud Dupree: We have to come in with a different mindset for pass defense”
Maybe they are just a mediocre team that plays in a historically bad division that beats up on bad teams in order to get into the playoffs? | 2022-12-12T15:59:52Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Bud Dupree: We have to come in with a different mindset for pass defense - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/bud-dupree-we-have-to-come-in-with-a-different-mindset-for-pass-defense/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/bud-dupree-we-have-to-come-in-with-a-different-mindset-for-pass-defense/ |
J.K. Dobbins: I’m not all the way me yet, I’m going to keep getting better
Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins‘ second return to the lineup this season went a lot better than the first.
Dobbins missed all of 2021 with a torn ACL and ran for 123 yards on 35 carries in four games before being shut down to have another surgery on his knee. He made it back on the field Sunday and ran 15 times for 120 yards and a touchdown in a 16-14 win over the Steelers.
The touchdown came one play after Dobbins broke loose for a 44-yard gain that he said would have been a touchdown if he were all the way back to 100 percent.
“It’s still not me all the way yet and I’m going to continue to get better,” Dobbins said, via the team’s website. “Hopefully those 100-yard games will turn into 200-yard games. I’m going to keep getting healthier.”
The Ravens ran for 215 yards altogether and staying productive in that phase of the game will be vital to playoff hopes for a Ravens team that is dealing with injury issues at quarterback right now. | 2022-12-12T15:59:54Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | J.K. Dobbins: I'm not all the way me yet, I'm going to keep getting better - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/j-k-dobbins-im-not-all-the-way-me-yet-im-going-to-keep-getting-better/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/j-k-dobbins-im-not-all-the-way-me-yet-im-going-to-keep-getting-better/ |
With rules and the enforcement of them making it physically easier to play quarterback than ever before, the men who get paid to throw footballs have one specific injury risk that can’t be eradicated.
When the quarterback follows through after making a pass, his hand may strike an opponent, specifically in the helmet.
That’s what happened to Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady on Sunday, against the 49ers. His facial expression suggested that it was not a pleasant experience.
After the game, the first question he faced related to his hand.
Brady has admitted in the past that he usually doesn’t tell the truth when speaking publicly. And when it comes to his health, he’ll be even less inclined to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. (In 2020, he concealed a torn MCL for the entire season.)
So we’ll wait for the injury report, to see if he misses practice time because of a hand or a finger or a wrist or whatever. And we’ll see whether he and the Buccaneers can find a way to get a win over the Bengals, who currently are one of the hottest teams in the NFL.
The Buccaneers currently are not. | 2022-12-12T16:02:12Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Tom Brady downplays potential hand injury - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/tom-brady-downplays-potential-hand-injury/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/tom-brady-downplays-potential-hand-injury/ |
The Falcons are reportedly set to make a change at quarterback as they come off their bye to face the Saints in Week 15.
But New Orleans is keeping the status quo at signal-caller.
Head coach Dennis Allen said on Monday that Andy Dalton will remain the Saints’ QB1 this Sunday. But that could change over the last few weeks of the season, with Jameis Winston waiting in the wings for his opportunity.
“I think we’ll evaluate everything as we finish out these last four games,” Allen said in his press conference. “But, I think Andy’s done some good thing. I think we’ve got to do a lot of other things around him to help him — and that includes us as a coaching staff putting everybody in better positions.”
The Saints are 3-7 with Dalton as a starter this season. He’s completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,252 yards with 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Winston hasn’t started since Week Three. He threw for 858 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions as the Saints went 1-2 in those games.
1 responses to “Andy Dalton remains Saints starter for Week 15”
Herman Peters says:
Dennis Allen is dumb and needs to be fired | 2022-12-12T19:50:35Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Andy Dalton remains Saints starter for Week 15 - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/andy-dalton-remains-starter-for-saints-for-week-15/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/andy-dalton-remains-starter-for-saints-for-week-15/ |
The Texans didn’t have their best offensive player late in Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys and they may not have him for their Week 15 matchup with the Chiefs.
Running back Dameon Pierce is dealing with a left ankle injury. Head coach Lovie Smith sounded unsure of Pierce’s availability during his Monday press conference.
“It will take an awful lot for him to not play,” Smith said, via Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle. “We’ll see.”
Pierce has 1,104 yards from scrimmage with five total touchdowns this season. He’s rushed for 939 yards with four touchdowns and caught 30 passes for 165 yards with a TD.
The Texans had Rex Burkhead taking the bulk of their snaps at running back after Pierce went out. | 2022-12-12T19:50:41Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Lovie Smith: It will take an awful lot for Dameon Pierce to not play - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/lovie-smith-it-will-take-an-awful-lot-for-dameon-pierce-to-not-play/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/lovie-smith-it-will-take-an-awful-lot-for-dameon-pierce-to-not-play/ |
Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, in only his second career visit to San Francisco (OK, Santa Clara) had a day to forget. After the game, he didn’t forget a question he’d gotten at a press conference last month.
Asked by reporters after the 35-7 loss whether he regrets coming back for another season, Brady said, “I think I already answered that a few weeks ago. Next question.”
Brady didn’t get any more big-picture questions about his football future during his five minutes or so with the media. He later spoke to Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Silver asked whether Brady possibly will be playing for the 49ers in 2023.
He’s tried to literally go there, at least once if not twice in recent years. In early 2020, the 49ers passed. Given the way Brock Purdy played on Sunday and the presence of Trey Lance on the team, they’d possibly pass on him again.
Those factors potentially influenced Brady’s answer to the question of whether he has played his last game at Levi’s Stadium.
“I don’t know,” Brady told Silver. “I don’t know. I don’t know.”
One thing Brady knows is that, if Sunday was his final game against the 49ers in their home stadium, it wasn’t a good one.
“We played a lot of losing football,” Brady told Silver. “We stunk today.”
Brady literally stunk on the flight back to Tampa. He didn’t shower before leaving Levi’s Stadium.
“Some things I don’t give a fuck about, at this point,” Brady told Silver, who characterized Brady as “half-smiling” while he spoke. “Fuck that. I’m going home.”
Eventually, Brady will be going home for good. Whether that will happen after the 2022 season still remains to be seen.
7 responses to “Tom Brady won’t ponder possibility of playing for 49ers in 2023”
hawkmoon68 says:
All class, by the classiest guy the NFL has ever seen!!!
Yeah, Brady is done and The Bucs got humiliated yesterday. Won’t be long before Raymond James is half full again.
Brady and Rodgers both would love to be QB1 in SF if they could. They both have publicly stated throughout their careers at some point
It would be kind of funny if the 49ers said , no thanks tome, we got Brock Purdy so we good
Brady should have retired after he won the Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.
He won’t ponder, or won’t Purdy the possibility?
This guy shouldn’t just be handed a roster spot on the 49ers. Get outta here with that. | 2022-12-12T19:50:59Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Tom Brady won't ponder possibility of playing for 49ers in 2023 - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/tom-brady-wont-ponder-possibility-of-playing-for-49ers-in-2023/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/tom-brady-wont-ponder-possibility-of-playing-for-49ers-in-2023/ |
Auburn running back Tank Bigsby has announced his decision to enter the 2023 NFL draft. He will forgo his remaining college eligibility.
“I valued the opportunity to run out of the tunnel and play in game environments at Jordan-Hare Stadium that was absolutely electrifying that words can’t describe,” Bigsby wrote on social media. “Shoutout to the Auburn nation and fans for your continuous support throughout my three years at Auburn.
“I’m very thankful for my teammates creating moments at Auburn that’ll never be forgotten. This journey has been filled with highs and lows but through it all your love and support has never wavered.”
As a junior in 2022, Bigsby had 179 carries for 970 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also caught 30 passes for 180 yards.
He finished his career as the school’s seventh all-time rusher with 2,903 yards. He also scored 25 rushing touchdowns on 540 carries in 35 games. Bigsby added 62 receptions for 448 yards.
He becomes the fourth Auburn player with remaining eligibility to declare for the draft, joining Owen Pappoe, Derick Hall and Colby Wooden. | 2022-12-12T23:10:48Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Auburn running back Tank Bigsby declares for NFL draft - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/auburn-running-back-tank-bigsby-declares-for-nfl-draft/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/auburn-running-back-tank-bigsby-declares-for-nfl-draft/ |
Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson was knocked out of Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs with a concussion that he suffered when he slammed into the turf headfirst at the end of a run near the Kansas City end zone and head coach Nathaniel Hackett offered an update on his condition on Monday.
Hackett said that it looked like Wilson lost consciousness for a moment after he made contact with the ground, but that he wasn’t sure if that was the case. He was asked if the team would consider keeping Wilson out this week even if he clears the concussion protocol, but said only that the team will do what’s best for Wilson’s health and safety as they move forward.
“Russell is in the concussion protocol,” Hackett said, via Troy Renck of KMGH. “We’re gonna do everything the way the medical doctors say, the independent doctors. His safety is by far the No. 1 most important thing. We’ll continually talk to him, to everybody else about that and make sure we do the right thing. . . . He felt great today when we saw him. He looked great, but we want to be sure that we do everything the right way.”
Brett Rypien started in place of an injured Wilson against the Jets earlier this season and replaced Wilson on Sunday, so he’d be in line to start against the Cardinals if Wilson remains out. | 2022-12-12T23:11:00Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Nathaniel Hackett: Russell Wilson feels great, we'll do everything the right way - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/nathaniel-hackett-russell-wilson-feels-great-well-do-everything-the-right-way/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/12/nathaniel-hackett-russell-wilson-feels-great-well-do-everything-the-right-way/ |
The Vikings gave up 464 yards to the Lions in last Sunday’s 34-23 loss to the Lions and that was actually a slight improvement over the previous week.
The Jets had 486 yards in Week 13 and the Vikings have allowed more than 400 yards to each of their last five opponents. The team now ranks last in the league in yards allowed and they’ve been outscored 313-312 on the season despite having a 10-3 record.
A run like that leads to questions for the head coach about possible changes on defense and Kevin O’Connell fielded them on Monday. Specifically, O’Connell was asked if he’s considered taking defensive play calling duties away from defensive coordinator Ed Donatell.
“You know you’re always looking at things that you think might be — what could be a possible answer to help the guys play better and be more consistent, but as of right now, no, that’s not something I’m considering,” O’Connell said, via Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
O’Connell noted that the team can’t “completely change the scheme outright” at this point in the season and there’s not much to do on the personnel front, so there are limits on how much can change in the final weeks. Finding a way to shore up some of the problems will be essential to Minnesota doing more than just making the playoffs, however. | 2022-12-13T12:53:22Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Kevin O'Connell isn't considering change in defensive play caller - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/13/kevin-oconnell-isnt-considering-change-in-defensive-play-caller/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/13/kevin-oconnell-isnt-considering-change-in-defensive-play-caller/ |
1 responses to “Eagles bring Anthony Harris back”
If you don’t envy the eagles you are just a hater. They have a GM that failed early in his career, took a lesser job, learned to be better during the demotion, and came out swinging. I don’t want to hear luck, because every GM in any sport is lucky to a degree. you don’t get lucky this often. They are relevant every year. He took a year this year where he knew he had a cheap QB and spent on exactly what he needed, while getting an extra #1 pick from a team that was going to stink. Next year he is going to pay his QB and at least two other guys on defense and replenish with what will be a lot of good draft picks. He will either get the best CB or DE in the draft. Some old heads will be gone for sure, but he will replenish. That guy is getting it DONE. Meanwhile you have the Cowboys, 49ers, Chargers, etc who just can’t make it happen to get to the next level. | 2022-12-13T15:56:10Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Eagles bring Anthony Harris back - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/13/eagles-bring-anthony-harris-back/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/13/eagles-bring-anthony-harris-back/ |
Two of the three teams who recently hosted free-agent receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has signed free-agent receivers not named Odell Beckham Jr.
So what does, for example, the acquisition of receiver T.Y. Hilton by the Cowboys mean for the potential pursuit of OBJ?
In his weekly Tuesday morning appearance on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, during which he sounds as if he just rolled out of bed or perhaps is still under the covers, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that the acquisition of Hilton does not rule out Beckham.
Via Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Jones said the door isn’t closed on Beckham becoming a Cowboys in 2022. “I wouldn’t go that far if you include the playoffs,” Jones said.
Still, it sounds unlikely. Per Hill, Jones also said that Beckham isn’t ready, and that he will be ready “come spring.”
With Beckham recently saying he doesn’t see the point of playing in the regular season and with teams likely not willing to devote postseason practice reps and resources to get him ready to go, it’s hard to imagine anyone signing him before the 2023 offseason.
That’s when it will get interesting, because that’s when Beckham may want a massive deal that pays out $20 million or more per year. And he may not get it. And he might eventually have to take a one-year deal, proving that he can still play at a high-level, before cashing in again.
Beckham is now 30. He has torn the same ACL twice. He’s not getting the interest he expected, as it relates to potential financial commitment.
The passage of time won’t change that. He needs to show that he can play and stay healthy before anyone will commit significant dollars to him. If that doesn’t happen over the balance of 2022, it needs to happen in 2023.
And, frankly, what first needs to happen may be for someone close to him to tell him a hard truth or two about where his current prospects are, and how to go about improving them. | 2022-12-13T15:56:16Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Jerry Jones claims door isn't closed on OBJ (even though it seems to be) - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/13/jerry-jones-claims-door-isnt-closed-on-obj-even-though-it-seems-to-be/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/13/jerry-jones-claims-door-isnt-closed-on-obj-even-though-it-seems-to-be/ |
NFL contends Thanksgiving Day audience was 31 percent higher than previously reported
As fans find more and more ways to watch pro football live, it’s becoming harder and harder to properly calculate the number of fans who are actually watching live pro football.
As it relates to the triple header of NFL games from Thanksgiving, the NFL contends that the actual audience for the trio of contests was 31 percent higher than previously reported by Nielsen, the company that for decades has generated the ratings numbers for television.
The league has issued a statement in which it explains that it “collaborated” with Nielsen on a “survey” in order to “complement” Nielsen’s data, in order to provide a “detailed picture” of the number of people who watched the games “particularly in group settings.”
The survey of 5,800 households resulted in a conclusion that the average-minute audience for the three games was 44.1 million, a 31-percent bump over the 33.6 million that Nielsen initially reported.
“The results showcase the unique nature of Thanksgiving Day football, which for football fans has become intrinsically intertwined with a national holiday that brings families and friends together for a day of appreciation and gratitude,” the league said in a statement. “Many watch in larger-than-normal group settings such as an extended family member or friend’s home, bar, or restaurant. . . . With three games spread across the entire day, the opportunity to catch the games while preparing the big meal, visiting multiple households on the same afternoon, or perhaps even after the neighborhood’s touch-football game provides fans ample chance to catch NFL action.”
Numbers were not generated (or, more accurately, not released) as to the specific games. The Giants-Cowboys contest was the most-watched regular season game ever, with 42 million viewers watching, on average. Was it 31 percent higher than that? That would be an astonishing (and perhaps facially implausible) audience of 55 million.
The key word for all of this is “credible.” Surveys become extrapolations. Any calculation like this hinges on a series of assumptions and approximations. There’s simply no way of assessing the quality of the assumptions and approximations without: (1) having full access to all of the information that was collected; and (2) knowing enough about the industry to properly assess whether any, some, or all of the assumptions were conservative, aggressive, or somewhere in between.
I’m NOT saying that creative accounting was used here. But there’s always going to be a clear temptation to find ways to construct survey questions, to select geographic locations for implementing the survey, and to analyze the numbers in a way that gently pushes them higher. As pointed out earlier this year after the first wave of Amazon numbers, there’s always room for a healthy dose of skepticism when the fox is doing the official henhouse inventory.
That said, the combination of captive audience and three compelling games undoubtedly generated a very big TV audience. Was it 31 percent higher than 33.6 million? No one will ever know with certainty. Regardless, it’s fair to say it was massive, and impressive. The NFL is the one product that can consistently collect and deliver a gigantic audience, even at a time when fewer and fewer people gather around the TV (or the computer or the tablet or the phone) to watch the same thing at the same time.
4 responses to “NFL contends Thanksgiving Day audience was 31 percent higher than previously reported”
javagold says:
As someone who was involved in marketing for a decades long career I can attest that you can prove anything by manipulating data in a survey. Advertisers want more than numbers and they want to know the right numbers are watching the games and their ads are noticed. When you are sitting in a public place watching a screen with many other people are you paying attention to ads? Did the survey ask which advertising was retained? That would be hard to prove. I’ve always felt that ad research is dubious at best and ad rates are set unrealistically by the TV networks because they have so much exposure with their billion dollar contracts with the NFL. The letter networks are hanging on almost solely due to televised sports but it’s being fractured every day. The viewer constantly swallows high cable and streaming rates which the non-NFL customers (the majority) will slowly rebel against. I would love to see a non-sports streaming service start stealing customers from the networks that are bleeding their customers for more money every year for sports they don’t watch.
It’s kind of shocking to me that they haven’t figured out ways to get more accurate audience numbers than Nielsen samples and surveys. I get that there are still over-the-air antenna users, but shouldn’t digital cable providers be able to at least get exact counts of how many cable boxes were tuned to a particular channel?
Back in the day Nielsen literally used to rely on people filling out logs of what they watched so you can guess how accurate that was. At least now they can electronically track that but their pool is so small one Nielsen participant equates to like 20,000 people so even a handful going against norms in what they watch will make a gigantic difference to the extrapolated numbers.
It’s getting harder and harder to believe much of what the NFL says anymore. | 2022-12-13T15:56:22Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | NFL contends Thanksgiving Day audience was 31 percent higher than previously reported - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/13/nfl-contends-thanksgiving-day-audience-was-31-percent-higher-than-previously-reported/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/13/nfl-contends-thanksgiving-day-audience-was-31-percent-higher-than-previously-reported/ |
Early on in the season, the Dolphins had a clear advantage playing in hot South Florida weather.
Now they’ll have to travel to Buffalo on a short week to play on Saturday night — just after flying home overnight after losing to the Chargers on Sunday. And there is snow in the forecast for the Week 15 marquee matchup.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was asked about a potential game in the elements during his Monday press conference and said, “I think it’s all in how you use it.”
“I think it’s kind of like playing in Miami. All right, it’s hot. We’re used to it being hot,” McDaniel said. “Does that mean we win every game? I mean, the course of the game can be influenced, but you still have to play in the same temperature and climate are as the opposing team. Just one’s more used to it than the other.
“So I think that’s something that you have to be real and upfront that, ‘hey, it’s going to be cold,’ but it’s also something that no one cares. The box score doesn’t read, ‘asterisk, it was cold.’ So it is what it is. If we’re trying to win a divisional game, we’re going to have to deal with elements and that comes with a mindset and just everyone’s going to be experiencing the same temperature. So I don’t plan on using that as an excuse in the slightest.”
Miami needs a bounce-back game offensively after struggling in consecutive weeks against San Francisco and Los Angeles. We’ll see if they can get things going in a tough environment over this weekend.
3 responses to “Mike McDaniel: If we’re trying to win a divisional game, we’re going to have to deal with the elements”
It will be cold but it will also be windy. The hangtime on Tua’s passes might set an NFL record.
Oh – the players care! To say anything otherwise is just lying. Played many a game in cold weather, if you’re moving it’s not too bad but if you’re sitting around or that wind chill is out it can be miserable.
This guy is just an overpaid OC. Has no business being a HC. | 2022-12-13T18:02:14Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Mike McDaniel: If we're trying to win a divisional game, we're going to have to deal with the elements - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/13/mike-mcdaniel-if-were-trying-to-win-a-divisional-game-were-going-to-have-to-deal-with-the-elements/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/13/mike-mcdaniel-if-were-trying-to-win-a-divisional-game-were-going-to-have-to-deal-with-the-elements/ |
If the playoffs started today (they don’t), the Patriots would be in.
That wasn’t the case 24 hours ago, but the Patriots’ win over the Cardinals on Monday Night Football put them into the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC. It’s going to be a close race over the final four weeks of the season to see if the Patriots can stay there.
7. Patriots (7-6) In the wild card lead with four games to go thanks to the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Jets and the conference record tiebreaker over the Chargers. | 2022-12-13T18:02:17Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Week 15 NFL playoff picture: Patriots move into AFC wild card position - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/13/week-15-nfl-playoff-picture-patriots-move-into-afc-wild-card-position/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/13/week-15-nfl-playoff-picture-patriots-move-into-afc-wild-card-position/ |
Rams receiver Cooper Kupp, who nearly set the single-season reception and receiving yardage records in 2021, won’t be back in 2022.
Coach Sean McVay made it clear that Kupp, who suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 10 against the Cardinals, won’t return in 2022.
“Yeah, you won’t see Cooper this year,” McVay told reporters on Tuesday. “I would be hard pressed to see any scenario that he would play again this year.”
Cooper Kupp will finish the year with 75 catches for for 812 yards and six touchdowns in nine games. In 2021, he finished with 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 scores.
The addition of Baker Mayfield and the unlikely come-from-way-behind win over the Raiders have made the Rams an interesting team in the final four weeks of the season. They’ll have to stay interesting without Kupp. | 2022-12-14T02:48:54Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Sean McVay: You won't see Cooper Kupp again this year - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/13/sean-mcvay-you-wont-see-cooper-kupp-again-this-year/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/13/sean-mcvay-you-wont-see-cooper-kupp-again-this-year/ |
7 responses to “Vikings sign Kalon Barnes off Dolphins practice squad”
“Can you play 15 yards off the receiver and turn the opposite way when he breaks?”
pryrates2023
LOL. Sad but true. With the scheme that Donatell uses, if you can play 15 yards off the receiver and then come up after the receiver gets the first down and about 5 more, you can play.
The Vikes will be PROMPTLY dismissed from the playoffs unless they figure out some way to get pressure on the QB or continue to get luck breaks by turning the ball over once the other team is in the Red zone.
A A Ron is NOT the Goat says:
Yeah like shut down corners are out there this time of year….lol
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now that’s that’s funny. I don’t care who ya are.
All kinds of possibilities here.
He could be nothing more than a warm body.
He could be serviceable.
He could be good.
He could be very good.
He could be elite.
The Vikings could have Champ Bailey and Charles Woodson playing corner and it wouldn’t make a difference. Donatell keeps the corners at least 7 yards from the receiver and any time they blitz or get pressure the QB just dumps off a quick pass and the receiver picks up an easy first down. Vikings won’t make it out of the first round with Donatell.
The Vikings got off to a great start this year. Over the last month, they’re playing .500 football, and have been outscored by 36 points over that same stretch.
I like teams that don’t go limp down the stretch. | 2022-12-14T16:17:26Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Vikings sign Kalon Barnes off Dolphins practice squad - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/14/vikings-sign-kalon-barnes-off-dolphins-practice-squad/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/14/vikings-sign-kalon-barnes-off-dolphins-practice-squad/ |
On Our Way Home is hitting the homestretch
I’m aware that this is a football-focused operation. You’re aware, by now, that over the past couple of years I’ve spent my spare time screwing around with fiction.
And, if you’re not aware, 23 chapters of a Christmas story I hunt-and-pecked into existence last December are now available.
I’m posting the chapters one per day, mostly. I may accelerate things a bit; some have said they’ll wait to start reading until it’s all posted, in order to not have to wait until the next day for the next chapter. It’s probably best to read it when this Christmas Spirit thing is in full bloom, usually from like December 20 through December 27, or so.
Whenever you choose to peruse, it’s easy to find. The landing page with all chapters can be found here. Alternatively, you can scroll through all chapters in one place right here. (Remember to click “next” after Chapter 15.)
Again, it’s all free. I’ve written six of these things, going on seven, and I reached a point last month where I decided to forget (for now) about the business side of the entire publishing industry and put it all out there, for anyone to read.
So read it, if you want. Don’t read it, if you don’t want. If you like it, let me know. If you don’t like it, let me know. If you see a typo, let me know. If you have a question about the story or if you think you see a hole in the plot, let me know. If you ultimately don’t give a crap, let me know.
Then again, taking the time to tell me you don’t give a crap means that you sort of do.
So, thank you for giving a crap. And Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and anyone about whom you genuinely give a crap. | 2022-12-14T16:35:47Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | On Our Way Home is hitting the homestretch - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/14/on-our-way-home-is-hitting-the-homestretch/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/14/on-our-way-home-is-hitting-the-homestretch/ |
Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson has declared for the NFL draft, he told Pete Thamel of ESPN. Simpson already was out of the Orange Bowl after injuring his ankle in the ACC championship game.
He is a top prospect in the draft, projected as a likely first-round choice.
The junior was second on the Tigers with 73 tackles this season and totaled 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, three pass breakups and four tackles for loss. In 2021, he had 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
Simpson will train at EXOS in Dallas beginning in January. | 2022-12-14T18:20:30Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson declares for 2023 NFL Draft - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/14/clemson-linebacker-trenton-simpson-declares-for-2023-nfl-draft/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/14/clemson-linebacker-trenton-simpson-declares-for-2023-nfl-draft/ |
Deshaun Watson will play his first home game as a Brown this Sunday and told reporters on Wednesday that he’s very excited “to play in front of the best fans in the world.”
Watson’s first two road games have resulted in a 1-1 record and he has not played up to the level he was at earlier in his career with the Texans. That might not have those fans as excited about his debut and Watson acknowledged that his play has not been up to par the last two weeks.
“I’m not close,” Watson said, via 92.3 The Fan. “I want to be better. I’m nowhere near where I want to be and this team is nowhere near where we want to be.”
Watson noted the limited time that he’s had to work in head coach Kevin Stefanski’s offense and said he still believes that the “sky’s the limit” for what he will be able to do with more time under his belt. With four weeks left in the season, it’s hard to tell how much Watson might be able to rise but he’ll certainly endear himself to some of the fanbase if he can beat the Ravens at home on Saturday.
9 responses to “Deshaun Watson: I’m nowhere near where I want to be as a player”
loshorribles says:
….But as a human being, I’m completely satisfied.
One problem is Stefansky needs to stop treating him like Flores treated Tua with the playcalls. This overly conservative game plan helps no one. It’s not like they’re protecting a #1 seed and can’t afford a L. Let Watson sling the ball around. Sure there might be more turnovers but it’s going to shake off the rust a lot faster. Watson’s not a rookie, he can handle a few interceptions but he needs some TD’s.
“I’m nowhere near where I should be as a decent human being.”
— Deshaun Watson said, never.
What about as a person?
How bout as a person?
This is nothing more than a “Shake of the rust” point in his career…..any positives that come out of the next few weeks is a bonus….if he can play spoiler VS the Ravens, Commanders & beat the Steelers, then he’s had a good come back start…..& if none of that happens, he can always get a few more massages to help ease the pain, after all, it’s not like he can’t afford it!!!
theartfuldodger12 says:
I hope the home fans boo him
Yeah, not much of a man either.
I hate the Browns because of this guy. The fans deserve so much more than this. Shameful to sign him to that deal hes padded his stats in Houston he’s not even that good | 2022-12-14T18:20:36Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Deshaun Watson: I'm nowhere near where I want to be as a player - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/14/deshaun-watson-im-nowhere-near-where-i-want-to-be-as-a-player/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/14/deshaun-watson-im-nowhere-near-where-i-want-to-be-as-a-player/ |
Saturday night’s game between the Dolphins and Bills is still on track to be played in sub-freezing temperatures with snow in Western New York.
There’s no real way for Miami to prepare for the cold precipitation as they practice in South Florida. So, head coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday that he’s doing “zero monitoring” of the forecasts before the game. And he noted that a big part of how the Dolphins will play in the elements has to do with their attitude.
“You guys live here — how much do you hold your breath on forecasts a week out here? I mean, weather changes,” McDaniel said in his press conference. “I think you expect it to be cold and it can be five feet of snow. You know that the elements are going to be different than what we’re in right now, talking about room temperature. And the biggest thing is, yeah, you do adjust a hair. We won’t be outside. You do what you [can] but you don’t really prepare for it besides mentally deciding if it’s going to matter to you or not.
If the Dolphins lose on Saturday, the Bills will clinch a playoff berth. But the division will still be up for grabs.
Miami needs to bounce back after a pair of West Coast losses. We’ll see how they adapt to the cold this weekend. | 2022-12-14T19:56:03Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Mike McDaniel: You decide mentally how much you're going to let the elements affect you - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/14/mike-mcdaniel-you-decide-mentally-how-much-youre-going-to-let-the-elements-affect-you/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/14/mike-mcdaniel-you-decide-mentally-how-much-youre-going-to-let-the-elements-affect-you/ |
The Chiefs may be getting one of their key offensive players back as soon as this week.
Head coach Andy Reid confirmed in his press conference that Kansas City is set to begin receiver Mecole Hardman‘s 21-day practice window, according to multiple reporters. The club is designating him to return from injured reserve.
Hardman has been dealing with an abdominal injury and was placed on IR on Nov. 17.
Before suffering the injury, Hardman had 25 receptions for 297 yards with four touchdowns this season. He’s also rushed for 31 yards with a pair of scores.
“We haven’t determined play or not play [on Sunday],” Reid said, via Adam Teicher of ESPN. “We’ll just ease him in and see how he does.”
Receiver Kadarius Toney, who’s been out since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 11, also will continue practicing this week. Reid noted Toney was getting ramped up last week.
“He came out of that feeling pretty good,” Reid said, via Nate Taylor of TheAthletic.com. “We’ll see how he does this week.”
The Chiefs will take on the Texans in Week 15. | 2022-12-14T20:04:57Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Chiefs to open 21-day practice window for Mecole Hardman - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/14/chiefs-to-open-21-day-practice-window-for-mecole-hardman/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/14/chiefs-to-open-21-day-practice-window-for-mecole-hardman/ |
Cardinals defensive lineman Zach Allen underwent hand surgery Wednesday, coach Kliff Kingsbury said.
“He’ll be out this week,” Kingsbury added.
Kingsbury expressed uncertainty about whether Allen will return this season.
Allen injured his hand in the third quarter of the team’s 27-13 loss to the Patriots on Monday Night Football. He played 32 defensive snaps and two on special teams.
In 13 games this season, he has career highs in sacks (5.5), tackles for loss (10), passes defensed (8) and quarterback hits (19).
Allen, 25, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. | 2022-12-14T20:05:58Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Zach Allen underwent hand surgery Wednesday - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/14/zach-allen-underwent-hand-surgery-wednesday/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/14/zach-allen-underwent-hand-surgery-wednesday/ |
The clock has quite possibly struck midnight on OBJ’s second annual in-season free-agency tour.
Via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, “several NFL teams” believe receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is “leaning toward” sitting out the remainder of the season and “gearing up for free agency in March.” One unnamed executive declared that Beckham will “be the prize” of the free-agency receiver class.
It’s important to remember that Beckham will have a head start on free agency, that he won’t have to wait until March. Because he’s currently not under contract, he can sign with any team, at any time. If he waits until free agency officially opens, he’ll be caught in the broader cluster of rapid-fire decisions as teams burn through their budgets on a variety of players, all at once.
Of course, Beckham may not sign in February or in March, if he doesn’t get the contract he wants. That seems to be the common denominator between his effort to sign during the 2022 season and his apparent decision to wait until the 2023 offseason.
He wants more than anyone will pay. And who is going to pay much of anything without proof that he can still perform at a high level?
He has twice torn the same ACL. He’s 30. If he’s still in his “prime,” he’s in the back end of it. What can he do to justify the investment he’ll command?
Again, he may have to sign a one-year deal, prove he can play, and then hope to cash in. Which could result in Beckham waiting and waiting and waiting some more, for someone to give him something closer to what he wants.
Then, perhaps he’ll wait until the season begins to unfold to sign with a contender, play part of the season, and end up laying the foundation for the contract that he’ll have a very hard time getting unless and until he plays.
His best hope for a multi-year deal could come in the form of a contract from a team that pays a modest amount in 2023 with a major commitment that vests in March of 2024. That team would either be happy with what it sees in 2023 and keep him, or it would cut him after a single season, making him a free agent all over again.
3 responses to “Will Odell Beckham Jr. wait until after the season to sign with a team?”
ThePopeFromTV says:
‘One unnamed executive declared that Beckham will “be the prize” of the free-agency receiver class.‘ – And that’s executive’s name? Lodell Schmeckham Jr.
We knew he was done quite awhile ago. Now the media needs to catch up and put newsworthy and relevant people in the spotlight instead.
At this point, I’d be surprised if he ever gets the contract he’s looking for. Even if he signs a one year prove it deal this coming up offseason, he’ll just be another year older the following year. Plus he’ll have the wear and tear of another season to add onto his already beaten up body. | 2022-12-14T22:11:45Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Will Odell Beckham Jr. wait until after the season to sign with a team? - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/14/will-odell-beckham-jr-wait-until-after-the-season-to-sign-with-a-team/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/14/will-odell-beckham-jr-wait-until-after-the-season-to-sign-with-a-team/ |
The Miami Dolphins and their Hawaiian quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa are preparing to play a cold and snowy game in Buffalo on Saturday night, but Tagovailoa says he isn’t concerned about the elements.
Tagovailoa, who played his college football at Alabama, said he has experienced snow before and doesn’t mind it.
“Could be snowing, could rain, I don’t know,” Tagovailoa said. “It’s a mindset thing, really, and if I’m too focused and worried about, Is it too cold? Can I grab the ball or not? Then I’m focused on the wrong things and it’ll be hard to play that way.”
After getting several questions from reporters about the Buffalo weather, Tagovailoa began to take issue with the idea that he can’t handle snow, saying that last winter he visited his brother, who plays quarterback at Maryland, and did an outdoor workout there, and that he saw snow in college, too.
“It snowed in Alabama my first year. So it snows in Alabama, guys. People don’t know that,” Tagovailoa said.
Some Bills fans who saw those comments responded on social media that if Tagovailoa thinks the snow in Alabama is comparable to the snow in Buffalo, he’s in for a rude awakening. Tagovailoa will get the opportunity to prove he can handle the snow on Saturday night. | 2022-12-15T11:15:03Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Tua Tagovailoa downplays snow in Buffalo: "It snows in Alabama" - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/15/tua-tagovailoa-downplays-snow-in-buffalo-it-snows-in-alabama/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/15/tua-tagovailoa-downplays-snow-in-buffalo-it-snows-in-alabama/ |
Lions quarterback Jared Goff is enjoying one of the best stretches of success in his career.
After the club started the season 1-6, Detroit has won five of its last six games to head into Week 15 at 6-7. Since Week Nine, Goff has completed 67 percent of his passes for 1,448 yards with 10 touchdowns and one interception. Plus, he’s been sacked only six times.
As the 2016 No. 1 overall pick, Goff has faced plenty of criticism throughout his career — including this year. But he recognizes that comes with being a quarterback and doesn’t necessarily think about proving people wrong.
“I don’t really care. Yeah, I don’t,” Goff said in his Wednesday press conference. “I really just enjoy winning with these guys, and whatever people may have said earlier on in the year, they were probably justified in some ways. We were 1-6, not playing very well. Now, we are playing pretty well, and everyone seems to have changed their minds on us, and we tried to stay right in the middle.
Goff said it’s about having the right mental toughness to handle both praise and criticism. As he put it, you’ll get praise if you play well, but if you don’t, you won’t.
Through 13 games this year, Goff has completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,352 yards with 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His 97.9 passer rating is the third-highest of his career after his two Pro Bowl years in 2017 and 2018.
1 responses to “Jared Goff: The biggest challenge is to show we can handle a little praise”
papacrick says:
Good level headed answer from Goff. The guy has persevered through some brutal public humiliation on and off the field and has come out clean on the other side. Had to be so tough watching Stafford come in and win a SB in his place yet he never complains or says anything negative about anyone or his situation. Hope his resurgence continues and he leads the Lions to their first playoff win in 31 years. He will forever be a legend in Detroit with any playoff success even if it doesn’t end with a Lombardi. | 2022-12-15T17:43:05Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Jared Goff: The biggest challenge is to show we can handle a little praise - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/15/jared-goff-the-biggest-challenge-is-to-show-we-can-handle-a-little-praise/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/15/jared-goff-the-biggest-challenge-is-to-show-we-can-handle-a-little-praise/ |
The Bills will remain in Buffalo for a long, long time.
Eventually, they’ll sign a 30-year lease at the to-be-constructed stadium. For now, they’ll play on a year-to-year basis at their current venue.
Via Tim O’Shei of the Buffalo News, owners voted on Wednesday to approve both leases.
The new stadium is expected to open in 2026. That means the Bills will spend three more years in their current location. Then, they’ll have a commitment through 2055.
The Bills and the local authorities have repeatedly extended the deadline for finalizing a stadium construction agreement. Per the report, a final deal is expected soon.
The long-term lease reportedly will include a non-relocation clause that requires the team to repay the full amount of the public contribution and finance the demolition of the stadium if the Bills move within the first 14 years. After that, the penalty gradually drops to zero. | 2022-12-15T17:43:17Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Owners approve short-term, long-term lease arrangements for Bills - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/15/owners-approve-short-term-long-term-lease-arrangements-for-bills/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/15/owners-approve-short-term-long-term-lease-arrangements-for-bills/ |
The only Browns player with an injury designation for Saturday’s game against the Ravens is a wide receiver, but it is not Amari Cooper.
Cooper has been dealing with a hip injury, but practiced on Thursday and is set to play after avoiding any injury label.
“He’s going to go,” Stefanski said, via the team’s website. “Again, it’s one of those things you have to get to Saturday and see how he is feeling. I know he’s going to be battling through it, but he looked good out there today.”
David Bell is listed as questionable with toe and thumb injuries. Stefanski said that “we’ll see how he does over the next 48 hours” before making a call about his status for the matchup of AFC North teams. | 2022-12-15T20:06:46Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Amari Cooper set to play, David Bell listed as questionable - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/15/amari-cooper-set-to-play-david-bell-listed-as-questionable/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/15/amari-cooper-set-to-play-david-bell-listed-as-questionable/ |
Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons intended his comments on The VonCast as a tip of the helmet to the Eagles defense. Instead, they came off as a shot at Jalen Hurts‘ MVP candidacy.
Two days later, though, Parsons didn’t take anything back.
“You’ve got to stand on everything you say just as a man,” Parsons said, via Schuyler Dixon of the Associated Press. “Obviously, they small clipped it and took one line of what was rally talked about. No pun intended or no disrespect to Hurts. I think he’s doing great this year. But you know me. I’m a defensive guy, and I said the Eagles defense is the team to watch. They have hell of a [lot of] players over there, making plays all year, from a defensive aspect, I know how offensive guys get all the credit, so I just want to stick up for the defensive guys.
“The conversation was most valuable player. Is it just quarterback? . . . That’s what the conversation was about. That’s where I stand on it.”
The second-year defender created another controversy during his interview with Bills pass rusher Von Miller, who tried to help Parsons wiggle his way out of war of words with the Eagles. But Parsons doubled down, explaining, “I just love the game so much, and I understand it so much, that when things are off, I just can’t hold it in. I’ve almost got to say something.”
Needless to say, it didn’t go over well in Philadelphia.
Parsons has never shied away from expressing his opinion, no matter how controversial. He got into hot water last week with his Twitter comments following WNBA star Brittney Griner’s release from Russian captivity. Parsons later apologized.
He is not apologizing for questioning whether it’s the Eagles’ system and their personnel — not Hurts’ play — that has led to the league’s best record. Parsons, though, insists he did not intend to be disrespectful toward Hurts, a favorite for the MVP award.
“I was just having a good conversation with Von, a person I look up to, helped him on his podcast and the next thing I know it’s a shit storm,” Parsons said. “You see how that goes. We were just talking football. Not once did I ever disrespect Hurts or any other player in any way. I’m just talking football. If football is a hurtful conversation, then what are we playing for? I think the job is more hurtful than the conversation, you know. If we can’t opinions. . . I mean, you guys get to talk shit all day. Why can’t we talk a little chatter? I don’t understand what’s so hurtful when we talk about each other. We’re the players. We play every day. So, I think people should have opinions.”
The Eagles and Cowboys play again Christmas Eve. Philadelphia won the first meeting 26-17 in Week 6 when Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott was out injured, and the Eagles have a two-game lead in the division.
3 responses to “Micah Parsons did not intend to start a “shit storm” but concedes “I’m sure they hate me” in Philadelphia”
Philly has a much better team now than they had last year when Hurts struggled…
Now he’s playing better as the team has…
Parsons should stand firm on his opinion
This guy talks too much.
If you had to call it now, one of these teams will represent the NFL in the Super Bowl. Both are great squads. | 2022-12-16T01:46:18Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Micah Parsons did not intend to start a "shit storm" but concedes "I'm sure they hate me" in Philadelphia - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/15/micah-parsons-did-not-intend-to-start-a-shit-storm-but-concedes-im-sure-they-hate-me-in-philadelphia/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/15/micah-parsons-did-not-intend-to-start-a-shit-storm-but-concedes-im-sure-they-hate-me-in-philadelphia/ |
With all the talk about the Dolphins making a trip to Buffalo in the snow, another warm-weather team’s visit to a chilly climate has been overlooked.
On Monday in Green Bay, the Rams face the Packers. The temperature is expected to be in the teens at kickoff.
How does Mayfield prepare for the cold?
“Just mentally just accepting the fact that everybody’s got to deal with it,” Mayfield said. “So I think when it comes to cold weather, there’s different preparation, different things you can wear. So we’re going to explore all those things just to eliminate it as much as you can. When it comes down to it, like I said, everybody has to deal with it. I might have to go with a ski mask or something to keep myself warm, so we’ll see.”
Linebacker Bobby Wagner‘s attire won’t include protection for his arms.
“No sleeves, man,” Wagner told reporters. “No sleeves. I have a little warm shirt on though, a little heated thing. But outside of that, no sleeves.”
How about going shirtless in warmups?
Again, it comes down to mindset.
“I think a lot of it is just mental,” Wagner said. “It’s cold out there, hot out there, it really doesn’t matter; it’s mental. Once you get past it being cold out there, it should be straight. My mindset is the faster you make the play, the faster you get to the heaters. If you’re cold, then make a play so we can get to the heaters.”
That’s the best approach. The better you do your job, the sooner you get to the heaters.
2 responses to “Rams brace for cold night at Lambeau Field”
It’s been cold in LA. Daytime temps in the high 50/low 60s + wind, down into the 40s at night. Granted that’s not Lambeau cold, but it will help them get into the right mindset.
Lol at ‘it’s been cold in LA … down to the 40s’. Try a high that day of 15, dropping into single digits during the game. | 2022-12-16T02:21:20Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Rams brace for cold night at Lambeau Field - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/15/rams-brace-for-cold-night-at-lambeau-field/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/15/rams-brace-for-cold-night-at-lambeau-field/ |
Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd left last Sunday’s game with a finger injury and initial reports said that he might miss a couple of weeks as he recovers from it.
That report looks like it was overly cautious. Boyd has practiced on a limited basis both days this week despite suffering an dislocation that saw his bone break the skin during the Bengals’ win over the Browns.
“I kind of went in shock,” Boyd said, via Ben Baby of ESPN.com. “I never really had any major injuries, thank god, let alone being able to see a bone. So, it kind of threw me off. But at the same time, my adrenaline was pumping. So, it wasn’t really hurting or fazing me. The only thing I was worried about was getting back out there to help my guys.”
Boyd will have to take extra precautions to protect the finger, but said that “at the end of the day, I can play” against the Buccaneers this weekend and the Bengals would welcome his help as they try to move closer to winning the AFC West for the second straight season. | 2022-12-16T12:00:28Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Tyler Boyd "kind of went in shock" after finger injury, but expects to play Sunday - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/tyler-boyd-kind-of-went-in-shock-after-finger-injury-but-expects-to-play-sunday/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/tyler-boyd-kind-of-went-in-shock-after-finger-injury-but-expects-to-play-sunday/ |
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett cited a painful memory from earlier this season while discussing the team’s slim hopes of making the playoffs on Thursday.
Garrett said he “heard a stat that our chances to make the playoffs right now are greater than the chances the Jets had to win with two minutes left” in their Week Two game against the Browns. The Jets won that game with two touchdowns in the final 82 seconds of play and that’s why Garrett said he’s still pushing for the team to advance despite long odds against it.
There are also some personal reasons for Garrett to keep pushing. He’s four sacks away from tying his single-season high and he can be an All-Pro for the third straight year, but he said that any individual accomplishments are devalued if the team doesn’t succeed.
“Each person can say they had an individually great season depending on how you did, but as a team, no,” Garrett said, via Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. “You fall short of the playoffs and you don’t achieve what you set out to do, it’s a failure. I mean, you can learn from it. I’m sure you can take something away, but if it’s success or failure and that’s the only two options we would’ve failed ourselves.”
With the playoffs unlikely, Garrett might have to be content playing spoilers to others and having a big day on Saturday would boost the Browns’ chances of doing that against the Ravens on Saturday.
1 responses to “Myles Garrett: Individual success can’t overcome failure to make playoffs”
dryzzt23 says:
Spare me the BS. All Garrett is concerned about is his contract, his stats, and his awards.
What he said here is known as ‘Agent speak’. | 2022-12-16T14:19:30Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Myles Garrett: Individual success can't overcome failure to make playoffs - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/myles-garrett-individual-success-cant-overcome-failure-to-make-playoffs/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/myles-garrett-individual-success-cant-overcome-failure-to-make-playoffs/ |
The NFL Players Association selected Bengals safety Jessie Bates as their Community MVP for Week 15 of the 2022 NFL season.
Bates is being recognized for work he’s done to help single mothers in the Cincinnati area. Bates hosted his third annual Single Mom’s Initiative to treat moms and their children during the holiday season.
The event included a shopping spree, a movie night for kids while the moms enjoyed a dinner by themselves, haircuts, and tickets to last Sunday’s Bengals win over the Browns. Bates said his own childhood has inspired him to do what he can to help single mothers.
The NFLPA will donate $10,000 to a foundation or charity of Bates’ choice. He will also be eligible for the Alan Page Community Award at the end of the season along with all of the other weekly winners. | 2022-12-16T16:25:56Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Jessie Bates named NFLPA Community MVP for Week 15 - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/jessie-bates-named-nflpa-community-mvp-for-week-15/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/jessie-bates-named-nflpa-community-mvp-for-week-15/ |
3 responses to “Mike White out, Zach Wilson in for Jets”
Lions by 30. I wonder how long it’ll take for the boo birds to come out. I hope Zach brings earplugs
So does he get benched again when White is healthy?
Well as much as I’d like the Jets to finish with a winning record this year it is the right decision all around.
1) Even if the Jets feel that White is better than Wilson at the moment (and he certainly seems to be) they need 2 (probably 3) wins to have a chance at the playoffs. Losing White for the season at the beginning of the last 4 game stretch would make that highly unlikely.
2) This is Wilson’s chance to prove he can learn and get it done. Even if he loses out but it is close in every game he plays in for the rest of the season the Jets need to know going into the draft whether he CAN be the QB they drafted him to be otherwise they are looking at a trying to find another QB in the draft.
3) Flacco is done. He doesn’t have what it takes anymore (Father Time defeats everybody) and is gone at the end of the year.
Win or lose out over this last stretch there is a LOT the Jets need to find out about the QBs they’ll have on the roster for next year. And even if they lose out anyone has to admit this is a better season than they were “supposed” to have and they are trending upwards. | 2022-12-16T16:25:57Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Mike White out, Zach Wilson in for Jets - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/mike-white-out-zach-wilson-in-for-jets/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/mike-white-out-zach-wilson-in-for-jets/ |
When sued, either in court or via an arbitration process, employers usually say nothing. The Arizona Cardinals, subject to an arbitration proceeding filed by former offensive line coach/run game coordinator Sean Kugler, have said a little more than nothing.
“As an ongoing legal matter, we are going to refrain from comment other than to say that the team is confident the process will result in a much different set of facts than those presented today and that it had good cause to terminate Mr. Kugler’s employment,” the team said in a statement.
The facts presented today come from Kugler, who insists that he didn’t grope a female security guard in Mexico City, and who calls the situation a “miscommunication” or a case of “mistaken identity.”
Because the case isn’t filed in court, it will be very difficult to obtain information about the case, including the facts that are developed before the formal hearing. | 2022-12-16T18:27:48Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Cardinals are "confident" that facts will show "good cause" to terminate Sean Kugler - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/cardinals-are-confident-that-facts-will-show-good-cause-to-terminate-sean-kugler/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/cardinals-are-confident-that-facts-will-show-good-cause-to-terminate-sean-kugler/ |
Commanders defensive end Chase Young has been back on the active roster for some time, but he has yet to play his first game since last November’s ACL tear and the team isn’t saying if he will be on the field against the Giants on Sunday night.
Young has been listed as questionable for the third straight game. Head coach Ron Rivera said that his outlook isn’t too different from the last two games when it comes to what they want to see in order to give Young the green light.
“We’re looking for that ‘cut loose,'” Rivera said, via Ben Standig of TheAthletic.com.
Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste (ankle), defensive lineman Efe Obada (finger), and wide receiver Cam Sims (back) are also listed as questionable. Offensive lineman Saahdiq Charles (concussion) is the only player who has been ruled out. | 2022-12-16T18:27:54Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Commanders list Chase Young as questionable - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/commanders-list-chase-young-as-questionable/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/commanders-list-chase-young-as-questionable/ |
One of 2023’s top offensive line prospects has officially thrown his name into the draft pool.
Northwestern tackle Peter Skoronski announced his intention to enter the NFL on Friday. Northwestern is not playing in a bowl game this year, so Skoronski had no choice to make about playing a final game for the school.
Skoronski became a starter during his freshman year and did not miss a game during his three years with the Wildcats. He was All-Big Ten in all three seasons and a unanimous AP All-American this season. He was also a finalist for the Outland Trophy for the nation’s best offensive lineman.
Most draft analysts project Skoronski will be off the board early in the first round this April. | 2022-12-16T18:28:50Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Peter Skoronski declares for draft - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/peter-skoronski-declares-for-draft/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/peter-skoronski-declares-for-draft/ |
22 responses to “Army first-round prospect Andre Carter II may have to complete military service before NFL career”
revskip says:
The military is not interested in helping its members grow and thrive as people. It simply needs them to play their part as cogs in the machine. Anyone who goes to a service academy needs to understand that part of the fine print. Once you are done with your service they won’t care a fig about you either, as evidenced by the large numbers of homeless and mentally destroyed service people who have been thrown away by the military once their service was complete.
Probably too simple of a solution for a government run institution to understand, but why can’t they let him play on the agreement that since he is still government property, he has to give half of the money from his first NFL contract to the army.
For recruitment purposes it’s probably better they just let him play. However no one made him sign with the military. You do have a term of service (think it’s usually 3 years.) If they really want to hold him to it that’s his obligation.
jkva says:
I’m stunned by the moronic comments here. FFS, people.
All due respect to his mom, but West Point does not offer kids a free college education to become football players. There are plenty of other options for that. Its a school designed to train young people to become commissioned officers and serve their country in the US Army. They accepted an appointment to the USMA that thousands of other aspiring military officers would LOVE to have received.
Having said that, I still think the Army could reach some compromise here to let this kid play in the NFL if its a possibility. There’s definitely PR value for the Army. Maybe he could serve in the reserves during the offseason or just allow him to pay back the cost of his education.
“When loyalty is not reciprocated…”
Well, that’s the deal when you sign up. They can alter the agreement anytime, and you are obligated to comply. Sure, they ripped the rug out from under Carter, but that was always a possibility. Maybe he didn’t know it at the time, but the adults around him should have known.
Here’s the thing that’s so painful,” Melissa Carter told ESPN. “You guide your son to do the right things because it’s right. And it’s really disappointing that it’s not reciprocated. This has been his goal since childhood, to go into the NFL.”
It might be painful but its ALL on the family. If going to the NFL was the goal and you were expecting a special waiver that’s NOT doing what’s right. Anytime you enter into a agreement that your actively hoping to get out of and expecting to get out of then you cant so your doing what’s right by agreeing to something in bad faith 🤷♂️ That’s not to say I dont think it could or should be deferred just that the mom cant claim they did everything right and trying to act like her son is being wronged for not keeping his commitments 🤷♂️🤷♂️
Sorry but no one should get special treatment in the service academies because you play sports. What if a student in the engineering department came up with a patent on something that could make him millions, can he forgo his obligation to pursue his dream? Of course not. This student made a deal to serve his country in return for his education. Football isn’t something that should allow you special treatment just because it is popular among the masses.
djswill says:
Alejandro Villanueva Served his time in the military prior to going pro. I am not sure what actually is the right thing or the wrong thing to do in these situations. I understand both sides of the argument.
If you make exceptions for football players would you do the same for baseball players that would end up in the minors?
Other side is how many policies or procedures would change during an athlete playing career that they would have to relearn prior to serving their time at the end of the career?
I am hoping for the best for Mr. Carter II and wish him best of luck in both of his careers.
I just don’t understand why these guys can’t just play right out of college and complete their service once their playing career is over? Most guys won’t last more than a year or 2 anyway. And if there’s that one exception that has a long career then maybe it’s worth it to just let them be a great representative of their academy and draw more people to said academies
Don’t enter the military if you’re not willing to complete your service.
“When loyalty is not reciprocated, that stings”? Loyalty? The loyalty of not yet having completed active service being rewarded with being let out of one’s obligations? That doesn’t sound like balance, it sounds like one side wanting everything and giving nothing.
If you didn’t want military service, go to a regular school!
Counter-point: That’s a lot of time, effort and resources put into someone who won’t then be serving, with no idea of how long it would be, if ever, before the service. And the resulting “advertising” would be representing the same – maybe not what they really want to encourage others to do.
David Robinson was able to work out an agreement with the Navy to play basketball and serve in the reserves.
justautumnwindbaby says:
Maybe he should “tank” and not graduate.
Besides the aforementioned Roger Staubach and Villanueva, Chad Hennings played for Air Force, flew A-10’s and deployed twice for combat missions in the Persian Gulf and Turkey.
He was drafted in the 11th round, and after fulfilling his military obligations, was a 26 year old rookie. He then won 3 rings with the Dallas Cowboys.
Tell me again why this kid deserves special treatment?
rthompson79 says:
This is a change to the rule when he started at Army. Plus, for Army, isn’t the publicity better than 1 additional body in the service? For all the guys that might get to the NFL, 1000s more have the dream when they go to college. Let him play, and some of those guys might still choose a service academy for their college.
Staubach was in the Navy and won the Heisman in what…’63, right? Was drafted in ’64. Didn’t start his pro career until ’69. Guess why? Military commitment.
No outcry then, even in an age when the military could do no right in the eyes of a very vocal segment of the population.
Once you shirk an obligation, you’ve established a pattern for the rest of your life.
Not surprising considering all branches missed their recruitment mark this year, missed it badly at that.
Anyone can walk away from a service academy after their 2nd year and before that summer starts. The ‘signing day’ for the remaining two years plus the 5 is a really big deal. He could have walked away then. The waiver was in place when he signed or maybe he wasn’t that big of a prospect at the time.
PS: I saw this in a documentary and I just looked it up to make sure I remembered correctly.
But what about the graduate who gets a chance for a management position at a good business? Why should they have to wait 5 years to start when the opportunity might not still be there? Or maybe someone wants to start a family now? Why are you going to a military academy if that’s not your chosen career?
But wondering, do they ever get a chance to transfer or drop out? Maybe, say after 2 years, decide this isn’t what I want, transfer to another school, get out of military commitment, maybe have to agree to pay back tuition later?
I was in the Army and I think they should give him the chance to play in the NFL. The early years of an NFL players career are so valuable now that not playing for years can destroy someones career and if he had to wait he wud be so old when he started his rookie deal it might be impossible to get a good second deal. I am sure when he joined the academy it was with the understanding that it wud be under the old rule where if he was good enough he wud be allowed to play in the NFL and there was no way at that time Andre or his family cud have known they were going to change it. I hope they may be able to challenge on rules he should be grandfathered in under the old rule. Also you have to take into account the fact he cud get injured in the Army causing him to not be able to ever play in the NFL at all. | 2022-12-16T20:21:17Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Army first-round prospect Andre Carter II may have to complete military service before NFL career - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/army-first-round-prospect-andre-carter-ii-may-have-to-complete-military-service-before-nfl-career/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/army-first-round-prospect-andre-carter-ii-may-have-to-complete-military-service-before-nfl-career/ |
The 6-7 Buccaneers are still in first place and have a strong chance to win the NFC South.
But Tampa Bay has not been a good team this year — as evidenced by their sub-.500 record with just four games left in the season.
Still, head coach Todd Bowles said Friday that he’s not surprised at the Buccaneers’ record through 13 games.
“It’s not a surprise. You are what your record says you are,” Bowles said in his press conference. “You wish you could have played better, but we’re 6-7. We’re still fighting for something and that’s the goal. You’re not going to look back unless you don’t achieve the goals. Our goals are still in front of us so we’re going full-steam ahead.”
It’s true that the Buccaneers will still make it to the postseason with a few wins. And with Tom Brady behind center, anything can happen in January.
But making it to the playoffs isn’t guaranteed, especially with the Bucs facing the Bengals, Cardinals, Panthers — who beat them 21-3 in Week Seven — and the Falcons in the last four weeks.
3 responses to “Todd Bowles says Bucs record isn’t a surprise: “You are what your record says you are””
I’m not surprised either. Need a better QB.
The record isn’t a surprise when Todd Bowles is coaching.
I guess that old adage doesn’t apply to the Vikings. | 2022-12-16T20:21:53Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Todd Bowles says Bucs record isn't a surprise: "You are what your record says you are" - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/todd-bowles-says-bucs-record-isnt-a-surprise-you-are-what-your-record-says-you-are/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/todd-bowles-says-bucs-record-isnt-a-surprise-you-are-what-your-record-says-you-are/ |
It’s not often that an NFL assistant coach takes a lateral move to a mid-level college program. But that’s what Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen reportedly will do, ditching the defending Super Bowl champions and coach Sean McVay for the University of Kentucky.
Coen was asked about the report on Friday, his first session with reporters since the report of his looming departure emerged.
“No update right now,” Coen said. “Biggest thing is focusing on the season. That’s the conversation that I’ll end up having with those guys at the end of the season. The biggest thing is just trying to do right by this place and finish the season off in the right way and really just that’s the main focus is getting Baker [Mayfield] going, getting these guys ready, and being there for these guys.”
It’s admirable, given that the Rams are basically playing out the string.
“Probably one or two guys hit me up about it,” Coen said regarding his response to players when asked about the report that he’s leaving. “They know that there’s always things that come out and whether I ended up doing that or not, at the end of the day, these guys are professionals. They know the deal. [I] addressed it with a few guys that [I] felt like we needed to address it with. Everybody’s really respectful of these kind of situations in this building. So, everybody’s been nothing but supportive.”
So it sounds like Coen is going. Really, if there was nothing to it, that’s what he would have said. | 2022-12-17T01:34:41Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Liam Coen has no update on report he's leaving the Rams for lateral move to Kentucky - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/liam-coen-has-no-update-on-report-hes-leaving-the-rams-for-lateral-move-to-kentucky/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/16/liam-coen-has-no-update-on-report-hes-leaving-the-rams-for-lateral-move-to-kentucky/ |
6 responses to “Scouting Combine conversation creates some friction at recent ownership meeting”
Absolutely ridiculous. Slaves didn’t have a choice. If players don’t want to go through the combine, get drafted, and be employed by the organization in exchange for millions of dollars, they can choose not to.
All voluntary.
It’s not a privilege for either side, it’s a business transaction. The teams are making an investment and they deserve to have all available data. What they do with that information is up to them, but they deserve an opportunity to make a good decision. They could always demand not to be drafted and pick any team as an UDFA, but then you are getting less money and betting on yourself. It’s a business transaction.
And in terms of not being able to choose where they live, where they work…that’s a known part of taking the job. If I accept a job that involves a lot of travel, my employer decides where I work. But it’s my choice to take that job or not.
Players are welcome to skip the combine, and some do. It’s an opportunity to move yourself up in the draft- which slots you in at a higher rookie contract. It is dehumanizing, but one could argue that all job interviews are dehumanizing.
tashley7 says:
They could finish their degree and join the labor force if they’d like | 2022-12-17T16:22:23Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Scouting Combine conversation creates some friction at recent ownership meeting - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/17/scouting-combine-conversation-creates-some-friction-at-recent-ownership-meeting/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/17/scouting-combine-conversation-creates-some-friction-at-recent-ownership-meeting/ |
6 responses to “Some are trying to suggest the Sean Kugler “mistaken identity” claim is a reference to Steve Keim”
atfirstglance says:
Keim seems like the drunken, scurvy type that would grope a woman on an out of country business trip so the theory isn’t without merit.
vikingsvoice says:
The NFL is a never-ending source of entertainment, on and off the field.
Keim obviously took Cris Carter’s advice to heart.
Always have yourself a fall guy.
Yea but they have Kyler Murray so everything is fine 🙄🙄
It’s not baseless. There is past character evidence. Steve was convicted of extreme DUI, paid a $200,000 fine to the Cardinals and spent 48 hours in jail. The claim about mistaken identity happens on the same day he takes leave for unspecified health reasons. None of this is direct evidence, but it is certainly circumstantial, and certainly probable cause for further investigation.. and they do look similar. Who is to say they weren’t all out drinking when something happened which got blamed on the sting guy (deliberately or not)? I just hope it’s not what I think it is. Steve is the general manager.. he’s very well may have made the decision alone to fire Krugler. I don’t think I have to do the speculative math for you on this one.
Now we wait for a statement by Steve Keim. He should have Jerrah write it for him. | 2022-12-17T16:22:35Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Some are trying to suggest the Sean Kugler "mistaken identity" claim is a reference to Steve Keim - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/17/some-are-trying-to-suggest-the-sean-kugler-mistaken-identity-claim-is-a-reference-to-steve-keim/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/17/some-are-trying-to-suggest-the-sean-kugler-mistaken-identity-claim-is-a-reference-to-steve-keim/ |
Dawson Knox caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Josh Allen with 9:02 remaining to draw the Bills to within 29-27 of the Dolphins. Allen’s run on the 2-point conversion has tied the game.
With the snow now falling hard, the Bills went 75 yards on seven plays.
Allen had a 44-yard run to the Miami 13, and then, on the next play, he ran for 5 yards before running out of bounds. Elandon Roberts was penalized for unnecessary roughness, which turned out to be a 4-yard penalty.
On third-and-goal from the 5, Allen found Knox for the score.
The Dolphins had 12 players on the field for the 2-point try, moving the ball to the 1-yard line. Allen leaped across the goal line, holding the ball across before it was knocked loose. Officials originally ruled it a fumble before overturning it on replay.
Allen has thrown for 264 yards and run for 80. | 2022-12-18T04:41:49Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Dawson Knox scores TD, Josh Allen the 2-point conversion to tie the game - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/17/dawson-knox-scores-td-josh-allen-the-2-point-conversion-to-tie-the-game/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/17/dawson-knox-scores-td-josh-allen-the-2-point-conversion-to-tie-the-game/ |
Bills fans were throwing so many snowballs on the field that the officials threatened to call a penalty on the home team on Saturday night, and Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said it created a safety concern.
According to McDaniel, Dolphins players were getting hit not just with snow but with ice, and the officials needed to act.
“I was just more concerned with safety when there are ice balls flying at people’s heads,” McDaniel said, via the Miami Herald. ”I think that’s what [the officials] were concerned with as well. There were several people that got hit. It’s whatever.”
Once the announcement was made in the stadium that the Bills could get a 15-yard penalty if fans continued throwing snow on the field, the fans mostly stopped. It would be unfortunate if a team got a penalty because of a fan’s actions, but the threat of a penalty may be the only thing that can stop it. | 2022-12-18T11:39:43Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Mike McDaniel: I was concerned with safety when ice balls were flying at people's heads - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/mike-mcdaniel-i-was-concerned-with-safety-when-ice-balls-were-flying-at-peoples-heads/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/mike-mcdaniel-i-was-concerned-with-safety-when-ice-balls-were-flying-at-peoples-heads/ |
On Our Way Home: Chapter Twenty-nine
I rushed to the door, still concerned that someone upstairs could hear the racket, even if I knew they couldn’t. I yanked the knob and pulled the edge of the wooden panel past my face.
The first thing I saw was the lightning bolt in his eyebrow, catching a gleam from the light inside the house. Then the gaunt face, cheekbones slicing through the steam wafting from his mouth and nose, ratty mustache slipped between the two.
It was him. It was Michael. Baby Michael.
Fifteen years after his own demise. Self-inflicted. I was the one who’d found him. Eyes bulging. Mouth open. Tongue protruding. Like the faces we’d make at the dinner table when our parents weren’t watching. That’s when I remembered I’d made myself forget what he looked like. I kept no pictures of him. I was angry he’d done it. And he knew it. I realized that’s why he’d been so standoffish, everywhere I’d seen him.
“Well,” he said. “I’m here. They told me to be here. Now what?”
“Do you want to come in?” I said.
“Because you don’t want me in your house.”
“Why do you think that?”
“You’ve erased me from your entire life. I know you have. It’s like I never even existed. You’ve never told your kids anything about me, not once.”
I didn’t even begin to argue with him. I knew it was true. The next sentence flew from my mouth before I could try to stop it.
“I’m not the one who killed myself,” I said.
“You’re an asshole.”
“I thought ghosts would be nicer.”
“We all ain’t Casper.”
I didn’t respond for several seconds.
“You never really liked that one,” I said.
“Casper. I liked Casper cartoons. You didn’t.”
“Happy little dead kid,” he said. “I never thought the dead were happy. Now I know they’re not.”
“Come inside,” I said. “They’re here.”
“I know they’re here. They’ve been driving me crazy. I like that they’re focused on you for a change. I needed a break from them.”
I looked over my shoulder. They were sitting on the couch but not really paying attention to us. Almost as if they were letting us do what they knew we needed to do. I stepped outside and pulled the door behind me.
“Did they come get you, too?”
“Yes and no. I was already gone. They didn’t give me a choice like they one they’re giving you.”
“Why am I getting a choice?”
My brother shrugged.
“I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going on. Is this heaven? Hell? Somewhere in between? I never believed in any of that stuff. Now I’m living in it.”
“Or not living in it.”
He titled his head and narrowed his right eye, apparently not sure how to take that. Then I heard something I hadn’t heard my brother do in years.
He laughed. He laughed like he always had, from the time he was old enough to make the sound while rolling around in a diaper full of his own poop. It was him. I wanted to hug him, but I wasn’t sure how he’d take that.
“So what are you gonna do?” he said to me.
“I don’t know. I thought I did. Now I don’t. There’s something to be said for walking away on your own terms.”
“Except when I did it,” he said.
“That’s not what I mean. They’re giving me a way out that isn’t really a way out. Did you know that? They said it’ll look like I had a heart attack.”
“I had a feeling that’s what they were up to. They haven’t told me much. I don’t know how much they’ve told you, but from our perspective we didn’t die very long ago. Even though we’re also aware of all the time that has passed. I can’t describe it. We’re existing in time and not in time, at the same time. I know I’ve been gone for fifteen years, but it doesn’t feel like fifteen years have passed, in the same way you’ve experienced the past fifteen years.”
“That’s what I can’t figure out. If I go, will it not feel like I had to wait decades to see my kids again?”
“You’ll still see them. You’ll still be around. But the time doesn’t pass the same way. I can’t really explain it. Remember when she was pregnant? You’d talk to me. I’d hear your voice. But I had no idea what was on the outside. I had no idea what it meant to exist beyond the womb.”
“You remember that? Why did you never tell me?”
“I didn’t remember it until after I died.” He peered over my shoulder to confirm the door was closed. “I don’t know what I’m allowed to tell you about this. But I can access everything I ever experienced. All the way back to before I was born. I can do it right now, while we’re talking. I know it doesn’t make sense to you. It eventually will, if you decide to go.”
I found myself becoming more and more fascinated by the possibility of joining them. Of entering this new phase of being. The intrigue made me feel guilty. I’d be abandoning my family. But would they be better off without whatever was coming? Would it be better for the kids to have me gone all at once, or to see their parents split up and watch me fight a losing battle with whatever was growing inside my skull?
“Don’t assume you’ll die from whatever you have,” he said. It felt like he was reading my mind.
“What do you mean?” I said, hoping to draw more from him.
“You’re not destined to die in a few years, to wither away, to put your kids through that. Besides, they’d probably prefer that to not having you around at all.”
“It sure would be nice if I could ask them.”
“I don’t know much about what’s going on,” he said, “but I know you can’t do that. You’ve got to make this decision on your own. Not that anyone in your life would believe any of this, if you told them.”
“I know I don’t believe any of it.”
“Well,” he said, “you need to.”
I was beginning to feel cold. I crossed my arms to get a little warmer.
“Did they tell you I have to decide right now, but they’ll wait until after Christmas to take me?”
“I heard them talking about that. She wants you to come. He’s acting like he doesn’t, but he does. I don’t know how they managed to finagle this thing where you decide now and they come back later. I don’t know who else they’re talking to.”
“There are others?”
“Others? There’s everyone. Everyone who ever lived.”
“I don’t know,” my brother said. “I haven’t met him. Or her. Or whoever. I don’t know if I’m in trouble or anything because I did it to myself. I feel like I only know what I need to know. But they definitely seem to know more than me. Maybe going to church every Sunday for their entire lives paid off.”
I turned my head to the sky. I saw a few stars peeking through the clouds.
“It’s not up there,” he said. “There’s no up or down. It’s all around. Just like when I was inside her stomach and you weren’t. But you’re on the inside this time. And I’m on the outside.”
“So is all that stuff they told us true?”
“Yes and no, as far as I can tell. There’s something. But it’s nothing anyone who is still alive can understand. So people just do the best they can. They’re sort of on the right track, but you can’t begin to comprehend any of it until after it happens. Even now, I don’t know everything there is to know. I feel like I haven’t even started to scratch the surface.”
“They keep telling me they’re on their way home. Do you know what that means?”
“They’ve been telling me the same thing since I died. And, no, I have no idea what it means.”
“Is it a good thing or a bad thing?”
He stared at me for a long time, not saying a word. I felt the cold go away, like there was a fire in a stove that was gradually warming everything around me.
“Here’s the question I keep asking myself,” he eventually said. “Is it ever a bad thing to be going home?”
I nodded at that one. I felt my decision bubbling in that visceral well from which all big choices come.
“Let’s go inside and talk to them a little more,” I said to him.
“You’re sure you want me in your house?”
“Michael,” I said, “I’m sorry for ever doing or saying or even thinking anything that would make you believe I didn’t want you in my home.”
For the first time since I’d seen him in all those different places, in all those different costumes and disguises, I finally saw him smile. As he did, he shifted into the man I remembered, the man I’d tried to forget. The one I’d seen the day before he died, the one who was in the basement watching football with me and drinking more beer than we should have that afternoon, laughing and enjoying the togetherness, same as always. I’d forgotten that feeling. I wanted more of it.
I turned to open the door. The knob wouldn’t move.
“You have to make your decision now,” he said. “Make it now. You don’t have to go in and tell them. They’ll know.”
I tried the door again, while also trying to ignore the feeling that was hardening into a resolution deep inside me. Still nothing.
“I think I locked us out,” I said.
I shook my head and turned back to him.
“It’s just like that time—”
Michael was gone.
I got cold again. I knew my parents were gone, too. I could feel it. I closed my eyes, hoping that when I opened them I’d be inside the house. It felt colder and colder as I stood there. I tried to ignore it, pressing my eyes shut hard and praying I wouldn’t actually be locked out of my own house on Christmas Eve.
I opened my eyes. The door was still in front of me, and I was still on the wrong side of it.
I didn’t spend as much time as I should have coming up with an explanation before I started ringing the bell.
(On Our Way Home continues soon, with Chapter Thirty. It’s being posted free of charge, with all chapters here. If you feel like paying for something, buy a copy of Playmakers instead.) | 2022-12-18T11:39:49Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | On Our Way Home: Chapter Twenty-nine - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/on-our-way-home-chapter-twenty-nine/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/on-our-way-home-chapter-twenty-nine/ |
Commanders pass rusher Chase Young is still not ready to return, more than 13 months after he suffered a serious knee injury.
Young is officially listed as questionable for tonight’s game against the Giants but after discussing it with Commanders coach Ron Rivera yesterday, they have both agreed he is not going to play, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The report says Young could play the final three games of the season, but we’ve been hearing for weeks that Young “could” play, and he keeps not playing. Young’s ACL recovery is taking significantly longer than most players’.
Young’s last game was on November 14, 2021. | 2022-12-18T13:23:48Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Chase Young is not expected to play tonight - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/chase-young-is-not-expected-to-play-tonight/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/chase-young-is-not-expected-to-play-tonight/ |
If you can’t appeal to their sense of goodwill, appeal to their sense of greed.
That’s the deeper message from a Week 15 Sunday Splash! report regarding one of the messages sent by the league office to the 32 owners this week.
Via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, the NFL told the teams that, collectively, they have spent $800 million on fired coaches and front-office executives over the past five years.
Why would the league office care about whether owners have to finance buyouts for coaches and executives? It has no impact on the operation or profitability of the league. At least not directly.
Indirectly, fewer openings mean fewer hirings mean fewer data points that collectively help prove that the owners are doing a very bad job of hiring minority coaches.
It’s the lowest of low-tech strategies. Every year, when the dust settles on the coaching carousel, the demographics of the new hires results in another wave of discussion and debate regarding the fact that real progress still isn’t being made. The fewer the hires, the less significant the final numbers.
Will that be enough to get an owner who already was thinking about making a change to stand pat? Many factors go into the decision-making process when it comes to firing a coach. If the fan base is getting frustrated and may show it with their wallets, the team may actually lose more money by keeping a coach or a G.M. than by firing either or both.
There’s another message, a more subtle one, from what the league told the owners. Pay less. Include fewer guaranteed dollars. Use the leverage you have when awarding some of the most coveted jobs in the world.
The whole thing underscores the reality that, even though the NFL is made up of 32 distinct businesses, the umbrella of The Shield becomes the device for trying to get those 32 businesses to operate in a semi-cohesive way. Although at times it may be as effective as herding squirrels, there’s still an unmistakable effort to get everyone on the same page.
By definition, that’s collusion. At a time when the league is defending an unprecedented case of racial discrimination, maybe it’s just a matter of time before the league ends up on the wrong end of a landmark antitrust case.
2 responses to “To reduce annual turnover, NFL appeals to owner greed”
And yet players union never fights for guaranteed contracts! Worst union ever!
But they forgot to say how much of that was offset by a fired coaches new job. | 2022-12-18T14:42:11Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | To reduce annual turnover, NFL appeals to owner greed - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/to-reduce-annual-turnover-nfl-appeals-to-owner-greed/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/to-reduce-annual-turnover-nfl-appeals-to-owner-greed/ |
Twenty-nine chapters are up. Three remain.
It’s my Christmas gift to each of you, if any of you choose to unwrap it. I think you’ll like it, at least more than a pink bunny suit, if you give it a try.
And if you’ve been waiting to get started because you don’t want to have to wait for a new chapter each day, you’re in luck. By the time you get through the stuff that’s already up, the final three chapters will have been posted.
It’s easy to find. The landing page with all chapters can be found here. You can also scroll through all chapters in one place right here. (Be sure to click “next” after Chapter 15, and after Chapter 30, once it’s up.)
Again, it’s all free. If you have any questions or comments or input or see any typos or anything else that doesn’t make sense, let me know. | 2022-12-18T16:39:40Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | On Our Way Home is almost home - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/on-our-way-home-is-almost-home/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/on-our-way-home-is-almost-home/ |
The Cowboys are dominating in Jacksonville so far.
Dallas has 24 plays, 144 yards and a 14-0 lead, holding the Jaguars to 10 plays and 35 yards.
Rookie tight end Peyton Hendershot made it a two-score lead with a 20-yard touchdown catch from Dak Prescott.
The Cowboys scored their first touchdown on a 10-yard run by Ezekiel Elliott.
Prescott is 8-of-9 for 89 yards and a touchdown, and Elliott has seven carries for 33 yards and a touchdown.
The Jaguars lost a fumble on their first drive and went three-and-out on their second. | 2022-12-18T19:51:59Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Peyton Hendershot's touchdown reception gives Cowboys a 14-0 lead - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/peyton-hendershots-touchdown-reception-gives-cowboys-a-14-0-lead/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/peyton-hendershots-touchdown-reception-gives-cowboys-a-14-0-lead/ |
The indefinite medical leave of absence that Cardinals G.M. Steve Keim recently commenced reportedly will be permanent.
Via Jonathan Jones of CBS, Keim and the Cardinals are expected to part ways in the offseason.
Keim signed an extension through 2027 earlier this year, along with coach Kliff Kingsbury. The duration of the contracts coupled with the absence of any details whatsoever about the terms of the deals created suspicion for some (at least, for me) that they weren’t ironclad or fully guaranteed or particularly lucrative, relative to the market.
Kingsbury’s future could be determined by a new G.M. Or Kingsbury could be fired, with the Cardinals having a clean slate for 2023.
Keim has been the G.M. since 2013. He has survived some bad seasons, along with a suspension following a DUI.
The Cardinals have made it to the playoffs three times under Keim. They advanced to the NFC Championship in 2015, and lost in the divisional round the other two times.
4 responses to “Report: Steve Keim, Cardinals are expected to part ways”
Kyler Murray, the gift that keeps on giving.
Suddenly, the Cardinals are the new Texans.
Pretty sure they got the right guy this time.
Kingsbury, just another one of a long line of failed college to NFL experiments! | 2022-12-18T19:52:05Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Report: Steve Keim, Cardinals are expected to part ways - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/report-steve-keim-cardinals-are-expected-to-part-ways/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/report-steve-keim-cardinals-are-expected-to-part-ways/ |
The Panthers are in the thick of the race in the NFC South and put together a nice response drive after the Steelers took an early 7-0 lead.
Sam Darnold fit a pass to D.J. Moore in a tight window at the goal line. With the touchdown, the game is now tied 7-7.
Darnold converted a pair of third-and-longs during the possession, the first with Darnold finding Moore on third-and-11 for 14 yards. Then he hit Terrace Marshall for a 41-yard gain on third-and-13 to give the Panthers first-and-goal at the 7-yard line.
On third-and-goal from the 5, Darnold had to roll to his right to avoid pressure. But was able to fire a dart to Moore for the score.
Darnold’s started the game 6-of-7 for 93 yards with a TD. That’s good for a perfect 158.3 passer rating. | 2022-12-18T19:52:24Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Sam Darnold touchdown pass to D.J. Moore ties game at 7-7 - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/sam-darnold-touchdown-pass-to-d-j-moore-ties-game-at-7-7/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/sam-darnold-touchdown-pass-to-d-j-moore-ties-game-at-7-7/ |
Jets quarterback Zach Wilson‘s first two possessions on Sunday didn’t show much progress from where he was before being benched a few weeks ago, but things came to life in the second quarter.
Wilson hit rookie wideout Garrett Wilson for a 33-yard gain on the first play of the quarter and then hit tight end C.J. Uzomah for a 40-yard touchdown on the next snap. The score tied things up 7-7 with just over 14 minutes to play in the first half.
Wilson returned to the lineup because of Mike White‘s injured ribs and opened the game with a pair of incompletions. He got a couple of completions on the second drive, but took a sack from James Houston on third down.
One of those completions was to wide receiver Denzel Mims, who promptly left the game to be evaluated for a concussion. The Jets are already missing Corey Davis with a concussion.
UPDATE 2:13 p.m. ET: Mims has been ruled out for the rest of the day. | 2022-12-18T19:52:48Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Zach Wilson goes deep, Jets tie Lions 7-7 - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/zach-wilson-goes-deep-jets-tie-lions-7-7/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/zach-wilson-goes-deep-jets-tie-lions-7-7/ |
The Jets have their first lead of the day late in the fourth quarter.
Zach Wilson hit C.J. Uzomah for a touchdown from a yard out and the Jets now lead the Lions 17-13 with 4:41 left in the game. Wilson was initially ruled to have run for a touchdown on the previous play, but replays showed he was stopped short of the end zone.
It’s Uzomah’s second touchdown pass of the day.
The scoring drive was set up by a questionable decision by Lions head coach Dan Campbell. He elected to try a 54-yard field goal on third-and-five and Michael Badgley‘s kick was well short. Wilson hit Garrett Wilson for a 33-yard gain a couple of plays later and a 14-yard completion to Braxton Berrios moved the Jets into prime scoring position.
Wilson’s touchdown pass ended a poor run of play by the Jets offense in the second half, but their defense made sure they remained in striking distance. Now they’ll have to make the lead stand up. | 2022-12-18T21:19:24Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Zach Wilson, C.J. Uzomah move Jets into lead - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/zach-wilson-c-j-uzomah-move-jets-into-lead/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/zach-wilson-c-j-uzomah-move-jets-into-lead/ |
The Chiefs entered Sunday 10-3 with a chance to clinch the AFC West with a win.
The Texans were 1-11-1, but coming off a strong performance against the Cowboys in Dallas.
In theory, it shouldn’t have taken the Chiefs so much to win. But while Houston gave another championship contender all it could handle, in the end, Kansas City came out on top with a 30-24 overtime win.
And with that victory, the Chiefs clinched the AFC West for a seventh consecutive year.
Kansas City had a chance to win the game in regulation. But with just 12 seconds left on the clock, Harrison Butker’s 51-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right.
It was Butker’s second missed kick of the game, as he also missed an extra point late in the second quarter.
So the game went to overtime tied at 24. The Chiefs had the ball first but had to punt when Patrick Mahomes was sacked on third-and-4 from the Houston 43. After a punt, Houston started at its own 13 — but that’s when disaster struck.
Davis Mills, who had played well, took a scramble to his left but defensive end Frank Clark knocked the ball out of his hands. After a scrum, linebacker Willie Gay came up with the football and a key takeaway.
Kansas City’s offense kept Butker out of the proceedings to end the game, with running back Jerick McKinnon going 26 yards for a game-winning touchdown on the next play.
Penalties and turnovers had kept the Texans in the game. Fumbles by Isiah Pacheco and JuJu Smith-Schuster became touchdowns for Houston. That’s how even though the Chiefs led in yardage 502-219, the game went to overtime.
Mahomes was 36-of-41 passing for 336 yards with two touchdowns. He completed his last 20 attempts in the contest. And he rushed for 33 yards on five attempts, including a 5-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Travis Kelce surpassed Shannon Sharpe for No. 4 all-time in receiving yards for a tight end during the game. Kelce finished with 10 catches on 10 targets for 105 yards.
Smith-Schuster also caught all 10 of his targets for 88 yards. McKinnon caught all eight of his targets for 70 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown.
The Chiefs are now 11-3, keeping pace with the Bills atop the AFC. But, Buffalo is currently the No. 1 seed as the club holds the tiebreaker after defeating Kansas City earlier this season. The Chiefs will host the Seahawks on Christmas Eve.
At 1-12-1, the Texans will be in Nashville for a Dec. 24 matchup against the division-rival Titans for Week 16.
8 responses to “Chiefs escape Houston with 30-24 victory, win 7th consecutive AFC West title”
Chiefs got taken to OT by a 1-11-1 Texans team….
Looking forward to another week of ChiefsKingdom spinning this to everyone how they are actually the best team in the AFC regardless of they are playing.
The worst team in the NFL took you to OT in December.
Despite 500 yards from KC, compared to the Texans 200, the refs did good to keep it close. Never bet on football!
Carl Cheffers loves him some Carl Cheffers.
And the worst team in the league had the lead in the 4th qtr against the vaunted Cowboys last week. What’s your point?
The Vaunted Cowboys that just got little bro’d by the Jags and are headed for a first round wildcard elim? Yes, much vaunted.
Another quality win for the Chiefs against an NFL juggernaut.
I called a Texans win in a major upset on this site on Friday. I had a vision. But the Texans messed it up. No surprise.
Well as long as they keep winning, BUT allowing 28 to Denver and 24 to Houston in nail biters doesnt bode well for the defense come playoff time. | 2022-12-18T22:58:25Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Chiefs escape Houston with 30-24 victory, win 7th consecutive AFC West title - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/chiefs-escape-houston-with-30-24-victory-win-7th-consecutive-afc-west-title/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/chiefs-escape-houston-with-30-24-victory-win-7th-consecutive-afc-west-title/ |
The Titans and Chargers had held each other scoreless since running back Derrick Henry’s 4-yard touchdown early in the second quarter.
But early in the final period, running back Austin Ekeler finally broke through to give Los Angeles a lead over Tennessee.
Ekeler took in a 3-yard run for a touchdown, making the score 14-7, Chargers, with 10:28 left in the contest.
The dual-threat running back had powered his way to Tennessee’s 3-yard line with a 12-yard run the play before. And then he finished it off with a tough run up the middle.
Quarterback Justin Herbert got the club in the red zone with a deep pass to receiver Keenan Allen on the left side for a 31-yard gain.
The drive was six plays and went 59 yards, taking 3:06 off the clock. The Chargers had a short field after the Titans missed a 51-yard field goal that would have taken the lead. | 2022-12-19T00:03:33Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Chargers take 14-7 lead with Austin Ekeler touchdown - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/chargers-take-14-7-lead-with-austin-ekeler-touchdown/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/chargers-take-14-7-lead-with-austin-ekeler-touchdown/ |
Feet rumbled down the stairs, more than one set of them. I heard them stop. I could hear Linda giving directions. Her voice was muffled.
“Stay upstairs,” probably. Authority oozing from her front-of-class voice. Then I could hear footsteps again, more slowly this time.
“It’s me,” I said, nearly yelling the words. “I locked myself out.”
“Yes, it’s me.”
“How do I know it’s you?”
I never knew why we didn’t have a peephole in the front door. And I was the one who thought having security cameras on the house reeked of paranoia, especially in a small town where nothing interesting ever happened.
Nothing interesting, indeed.
“Am I inside the house? If I’m not inside the house, I’m out here.”
She opened the door, hair pulled back and irritation radiating in my direction.
“What are you doing out here?”
“I locked myself out.”
“How did you lock yourself out?”
“Well, the door was locked and it closed behind me.” As the words came out of my mouth, I wondered how I’d ever managed to win a single trial.
“Well, I realize that,” she said, still glaring at me as I walked inside, rubbing my arms through a wave of shivers. “How did you end up outside with the door closed?”
I stopped moving. I was hoping to come up with something bordering on the semi-plausible.
“I thought I heard something,” I said, bobbing my head in the recognition that my explanation literally counted as something close to the truth.
“Something,” I said. “That’s why I checked.”
She followed me into the kitchen, a hawk tracking a wounded squirrel.
“But what was it?”
“I don’t know,” I said, continuing toward the cabinet for a glass to fill with water I didn’t really want. But I needed to act like I was doing something other than trying to get away from her questions. “That’s why I went outside.”
She stopped and watched me. Maybe she decided to give me a Christmas dispensation. I felt the tension evaporate.
“You know,” she said, “if we’d put those cameras up, this wouldn’t happen.”
“Maybe I will,” I said, taking another drink of tap water. It felt warm in my mouth. I wanted to spit it out.
“I’m going back to bed,” she said, and she began to walk away. “Nice job on the bike,” she added as she disappeared onto the staircase.
I assumed she was being sarcastic, since I’d gotten none of Macy’s big gift for the year assembled before they showed up. I looked down. The collection of parts wasn’t there.
I stepped into the TV room. There it was. Fully assembled. Ready to go. It even had a bow on it. I put my hands on the seat, trying to make sure that the thing was real. I’d done a good job. If I’d even done it. If I didn’t, who in the hell did?
I sat on the couch, in the same spot where my father had been sitting. I replayed the entire exchange with my parents and the conversation with my brother, multiple times. I wanted to write it all down, but I didn’t want Linda to ever find the notes. Maybe I’d tell her I had an idea for a Christmas story that nobody would ever find remotely believable. Then again, millions suspended disbelief every year when taking in the Christmas Eve adventures of George Bailey and Ebenezer Scrooge. Why would anyone regard the past few days in the life of John Persepio as impossible?
But it was impossible. All of it. I really did have a brain tumor, I thought. That could be the only explanation for any of it. I was hallucinating.
What about Macy? She had seen them. She knew who they were. Who they weren’t. They weren’t the Alexanders. Maybe the hallucination included believing that someone else was experiencing it, too. Or maybe she had the same brain tumor I had.
It was all so crazy. I kept working my way back through the interactions with three people who had been dead for years. It was clear, and it was consistent. It had happened. It was real. Maybe it was just a really good hallucination. How many more of those would I have?
This time, I felt it coming. I hustled to the bathroom on the other side of the kitchen before vomiting into the toilet, as quietly as I could. (Not very quietly.) After it was over, I stood at the sink. I washed my hands. I caught my reflection in the mirror above the basin. I could see all three of their faces in mine, one after the other. My brother. Then my father. Finally, my mother. I sat down on the wooden floor and started to cry.
“What have I done,” I said through tears that wouldn’t stop. “What have I done?”
The next thing I saw was daylight, making its way from the window over the sink and through the open door to the bathroom. I assumed I’d slept, but it didn’t feel like I was waking up. I pushed myself from the floor. My knees wobbled. There was a small stain from a splash of puke on my pants. I threw my left hand against the wall until I was steady. In the mirror, it was just my own face, outlined in white stubble.
“Ho, ho, ho,” I said before exiting to the kitchen. I could see snow falling outside. Large flakes that danced in defiance of gravity. Was it really snowing? I had begun to doubt everything I saw. But at least I knew it was Christmas morning.
I resolved then and there to put it all out of my mind. It was the only way to ensure the day would unfold exactly the way it needed to go. I made it my sole focus.
I looked down and saw Buster, peering up at me. There was something in those black eyes, like he knew exactly what had happened, what would happen. I put my hand on top of his head and left it there. His tail wagged softly. I took it as him telling me everything would be all right, because I needed to hear that from someone, anyone.
I was determined the kids would remember this Christmas as a good one. Maybe the last good one they’d have, until they had kids of their own.
That’s exactly how it would go. From the time Macy rambled down the stairs and threw her arms around her bike shouting “thank you Sthanta!” over and over again. Linda soon entered, smiling at Macy’s glee. The boys made from their bedrooms not long after, no sign of the devices that normally kept them hypnotized, no graceless exit to the basement to fire up their video game. We gathered in the TV room around the tree, basking in the joy that emanated from Macy. I felt nourished by it. I got the feeling the others did, too.
Eventually, we settled into the routine of unwrapping gifts, with Macy opening hers before Mark and then Joseph. I watched all of it, gathering the torn papers and collecting them in a heap while they enjoyed an occasion that wouldn’t last very long but that hopefully would live forever in their memories, especially in mine.
After it all ended, I started for the kitchen to get a garbage bag.
“Daddy,” Macy said, “there’s one for you.”
She brought me a package. It wasn’t big. It felt solid and firm.
“Who’s this from?” I said. Linda made a face of confusion. It didn’t seem very persuasive. Then again, I’d lost my ability to read her, if I ever even had it. The boys, on the other hand, were easy; it was clear they had nothing to do with it.
“It’sth for you. It has your name on it. Sthee? It sthays John.”
“It actually says Johnny,” I said. “Who calls me Johnny?” Macy giggled as I said my name in a way that none of them ever used it, not even Linda.
I unwrapped the present slowly. The covering seemed old and worn, unlike anything from the long tubes Linda had collected over the years. Underneath the wrapping paper was a white box. I held it in my hands.
“Earth to Daddy,” Macy said. I looked at her. “Open it, Johnny.” She laughed as she said it.
In her laughter, I could hear my brother’s laugh. Had I never noticed that she laughs just like he did?
I found the bottom of the lid and pulled it away. It was a picture frame, turned upside down. I lifted it. I started crying all over again.
I showed her the picture. It was my parents, Baby Michael, and me. Taken by my grandmother on a Christmas, years ago. We were all smiling broadly, as if someone had told a funny joke right before a flash of light had exploded and the shutter had snapped.
Linda walked over to look at the photo.
“Do you know who those people are?” she said to Macy.
She focused on the image. It was just a hair out of focus.
“That’s Daddy in the middle,” Macy said. “And those are the old people.”
“Which old people?” Linda said.
Macy spirited away, back toward her bike.
“The old people we sat with in church. But they were a lot younger then. Like you and Daddy now.”
“Thank you,” I said to Linda as the wetness made its way down my cheeks.
“Don’t thank me,” she said. “Seriously, I don’t know where that came from. Boys, did you do this?”
They both shrugged at her.
“Macy, where did this come from?” Linda said.
She shrugged, too, not because she didn’t know the answer but because she believed the answer was obvious.
“Sthanta,” she said.
And then she hopped on her bike.
(On Our Way Home continues soon, with Chapter Thirty-one. It’s being posted free of charge, with all chapters here. If you feel like paying for something, buy a copy of Playmakers instead.) | 2022-12-19T04:54:41Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | On Our Way Home: Chapter Thirty - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/on-our-way-home-chapter-thirty/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/18/on-our-way-home-chapter-thirty/ |
The Raiders scored one of the most improbable touchdowns in NFL history at the end of Sunday’s game against the Patriots.
With no time left on the clock, Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers tried a long backward pass to quarterback Mac Jones instead of going out of bounds and sending the game to overtime. The pass was picked off by Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones, who explained to Peter King what happened next for this week’s Football Morning in America.
“Instead of pursuing the ball, I just started playing back into saying, alright who’s the next passer? Who could they possibly throw it to next that’s behind the line of scrimmage? Because they’re playing this whole hot potato game,” Jones said. “Sure enough, I saw Jakobi Meyers kinda look back at Mac Jones, the quarterback. He was standing in the middle of the field. I literally just jumped up when I saw the ball coming, intended for Mac. Mac was kind of standing there, looking at me with big eyes. I literally just jumped up and intercepted it. I just gave Mac a nice stiff arm with my right hand. The rest was history.”
That underplays things a bit since Chandler Jones planted Mac Jones in the turf like he was an explorer claiming territory before racing to the end zone to give his team a win after they blew yet another big second half lead. Chandler Jones used to play for the Patriots, which made the play even more enjoyable for him.
“When you play against a former team, you never really want to speak about it but you always have that in your mind: ‘I’ve got to get this team,'” Jones said, via Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com. “So, it does feel a little good. I’ll do a little silent brag there. It felt good. Yeah.”
The touchdown will almost certainly go down as the most memorable moment of the 2022 season in Las Vegas as well as one of the most memorable in the entire league. | 2022-12-19T12:10:02Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Chandler Jones: Mac Jones was standing there, looking at me with big eyes - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/19/chandler-jones-mac-jones-was-standing-there-looking-at-me-with-big-eyes/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/19/chandler-jones-mac-jones-was-standing-there-looking-at-me-with-big-eyes/ |
Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin was flagged for an illegal formation penalty that wiped out a touchdown in the final moments of Sunday night’s loss to the Giants, and after the game he said he checked with the official to make sure he was lined up legally.
McLaurin said that he was lined up on that play the same way he lined up on every play where he was supposed to be on the line of scrimmage, and that he turned to the official to see if he was on the line of scrimmage, the official told him to move up a little bit, and he did what the official told him.
Video of the play shows McLaurin looking to the official on the sideline, the two of them appearing to communicate, and then McLaurin moving up a half-step. As soon as the ball was snapped, the official threw his penalty flag.
It was an incredibly costly penalty, one that could loom large over the rest of the Commanders’ season as they fight for a spot in the playoffs. | 2022-12-19T12:10:14Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Terry McLaurin: I checked with the official if I was lined up legally, and he said I was good - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/19/terry-mclaurin-i-checked-with-the-official-if-i-was-lined-up-legally-and-he-said-i-was-good/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/19/terry-mclaurin-i-checked-with-the-official-if-i-was-lined-up-legally-and-he-said-i-was-good/ |
Running back Bijan Robinson officially threw his name into the 2023 draft pool on Monday.
Robinson announced that he will forego his remaining eligibility at Texas in order to head into the professional ranks.
The announcement comes after three very productive seasons with the Longhorns. Robinson ran for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns this season and leaves the school 3,410 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns over three seasons. Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson, and Earl Campbell are the only players to run for more yards at Texas.
Robinson also caught 60 passes for 805 yards and eight touchdowns to establish himself as the consensus top running back coming into the professional ranks this year. If he goes in the first round, he’ll be the first Texas product to go that high since Malcom Brown in 2015. | 2022-12-19T17:24:59Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Bijan Robinson declares for 2023 draft - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/19/bijan-robinson-declares-for-2023-draft/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/19/bijan-robinson-declares-for-2023-draft/ |
Three weeks from today, the regular season will be over. The hay will be in the barn for any and all major awards.
The most major of the major award is the Most Valuable Player.
It means a lot to media and fans and those who wager on the outcome. It means far less to one of the men in the mix for it.
“I honestly don’t care,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes told PFT after Sunday’s 30-24 overtime win in Houston. “As long as we win the Super Bowl, it won’t matter to me. I just try to go out there and compete. I’ve won a MVP and I won a Super Bowl, and a Super Bowl is a lot better.”
Indeed it is. To a man, everyone who has won the MVP award and not won the Super Bowl that same year — a streak that dates back to the Kurt Warner double-dip in 1999 — would trade the regular-season MVP award for a Super Bowl ring.
And Mahomes is uniquely situated to comment on the situation. He’s been the regular-season MVP. He’s been the Super Bowl MVP. He knows which one really matters.
8 responses to “Patrick Mahomes: I’d rather win another Super Bowl than another MVP award”
Smart man and QB.
To think shanahan passed on him for solomon thomas.
Ryan Leaf could have a 13-1 record as the Eagles QB. That team is so good!
Ewwin Wawgers would disagree – self-esteem padding starts with personal awards. Team is just an annoyance.
Mr. Mahomes Speaks the Truth
I’d rather win the MVP than win a Super bowl, personally. His situation is different as he’s already and NFL star and I’m not.
For my team and my QB I’d rather the Super Bowl title, obviously.
But ya if I was just a run of the mill QB who had a great year, give me the MVP and the cash that comes with it over the title.
I would expect any player in the NFL to say the same thing | 2022-12-19T17:25:42Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Patrick Mahomes: I'd rather win another Super Bowl than another MVP award - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/19/patrick-mahomes-id-rather-win-another-super-bowl-than-another-mvp-award/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/19/patrick-mahomes-id-rather-win-another-super-bowl-than-another-mvp-award/ |
Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins won the game on Sunday with an interception that he returned for a touchdown. After the thrilling, 40-34 victory by Jacksonville over the Cowboys, Jenkins explained the final play by phone to PFT.
If you watch the play (and you probably should so that the rest of this makes sense), you’ll see that Jenkins initially took a step toward following Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. Jenkins then diagnosed the play, thanks to preparation and coaching.
“We knew they liked the mesh concept, especially when in those gotta-have-it situations,” Jenkins said of the Dallas offense, which faced a third and four in overtime. “So, I knew once the running back flared out and my [defensive end] took him, I knew that freed me up. I can get my eyes back inside for any other, like, anything else crossing. . . . Dak [Prescott] tried to throw the ball. I don’t know what happened. Honestly, I think it just bounced off his chest. . . . It fell basically like in front of me. I had to reach out, get it and, I had to win that game.”
Jenkins credited the coaches for having them ready for that moment.
“Our coaches did a great job this week in preparing us for seeing those type of looks,” Jenkins said. “[Prescott] wanted to clear out the flat defender if we were in any zone, he wants to clear out the flat defender to that side and then bring the receiver on the under right where he just cleared that flat defender. So, I knew that he was going to read that under receiver coming back. and I didn’t know it was going to be ricocheted, but I was planning on getting a big hit.”
There was no hit to be made, because the ball popped up to Jenkins, who scored the game-winning touchdown.
“I just wanted to get that touchdown, man, and just end that game. . . . As soon as I caught that ball, the only thing that was in my head was six. The other thing that was in my head was, ‘I hope one of these fast receivers isn’t behind me.'”
At least one of them was (as the attached picture shows), but not close enough to make a difference. Jenkins delivered the win, thanks in large part to the coaching and the preparation.
The other side of the coin, obviously, is that the Cowboys are a little too predictable in those spots. They’ve developed a clear pattern, the Jaguars cracked it — and that’s one of the reasons why the Cowboys lost the game.
4 responses to “Rayshawn Jenkins: Preparation, coaching was key to pick-six”
It was a heads up play. He was in the right place at the right time and had great awareness.
DUUUUUUVAL!
Luck is preparation meeting opportunity
Brilliant play. The only downside was we didn’t get to see a zoom shot of Jerruh’s face. | 2022-12-19T17:25:48Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Rayshawn Jenkins: Preparation, coaching was key to pick-six - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/19/rayshawn-jenkins-preparation-coaching-was-key-to-pick-six/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/19/rayshawn-jenkins-preparation-coaching-was-key-to-pick-six/ |
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell is not happy with some of the hits wide receiver Justin Jefferson has taken.
Jefferson, who was on the receiving end of a hit that drew an unnecessary roughness penalty on Colts cornerback Stephon Gilmore on Saturday, has repeatedly drawn illegal hits, and O’Connell believes opposing teams are targeting him.
Jefferson leads the NFL with 1,623 receiving yards this season and has a chance to break the all-time NFL record for receiving yards in a season. Clearly, he’s the player opposing defenses are focusing on. But O’Connell believes teams are doing more than just focusing on Jefferson, and purposely taking illegal shots at him. And by talking about it publicly, perhaps he’s hoping that the officials and the league office are keeping a closer eye on it going forward.
3 responses to “Kevin O’Connell: Justin Jefferson keeps taking illegal hits, and they don’t seem to be accidents”
Kevin O’Connell should watch a Niners game and see the hits that Deebo, Aiyuk and McCaffrey are taking. It’s not just Jefferson.
KOC’s statement will have a bigger impact when he mentions it again the week before the Super Bowl.
I’ve noticed that as well … and it’s amazing how he usually pops up without complaining or pleading with the refs for a flag. Great player and not a diva. | 2022-12-19T19:41:21Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Kevin O'Connell: Justin Jefferson keeps taking illegal hits, and they don't seem to be accidents - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/19/kevin-oconnell-justin-jefferson-keeps-taking-illegal-hits-and-they-dont-seem-to-be-accidents/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/19/kevin-oconnell-justin-jefferson-keeps-taking-illegal-hits-and-they-dont-seem-to-be-accidents/ |
Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson was arrested and booked at the Bristol County Jail and House of Corrections in Massachusetts Monday.
Boston 25 News reports, via a spokesperson for the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, that Jackson was booked on Monday afternoon for a “family issue” after an appearance in probate court. The nature of the issue is unknown, but the spokesperson said that it is non-violent.
“We are aware of media reports this afternoon pertaining to J.C. Jackson,” the Chargers said in a statement, via Daniel Popper of TheAthletic.com. “We will continue to gather information on this matter and will refrain from further comment at this time.”
Jackson is out for the season after rupturing the patella tendon in his knee. He signed a five-year deal with the Chargers as a free agent after leaving the Patriots. | 2022-12-19T21:52:44Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | J.C. Jackson arrested in Massachusetts for non-violent family issue - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/19/j-c-jackson-arrested-in-massachusetts-for-non-violent-family-issue/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/19/j-c-jackson-arrested-in-massachusetts-for-non-violent-family-issue/ |
The Ravens only scored three points in Saturday’s loss to the Browns and reaction to that in Baltimore included calls for the team to part ways with offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
Some of those calls came via handwritten notes dropped off at the team’s facility. Linebacker Tyus Bowser shared a video showing those papers, which, via Melissa Y. Kim of WBAL, earned him a conversation with head coach John Harbaugh.
Bowser also spoke to Roman and Harbaugh said at his Monday press conference that there aren’t going to be any moves made involving members of the coaching staff right now.
“We’re not getting into all that,” Harbaugh said. “You guys can talk about all that, I respect that. I love the fans talking about everything they can talk about. We’re together. We’re a team. We’re spending all of our time getting ready for the Atlanta Falcons with every ounce of energy and fiber we’ve got. With a bunch of very, very good people at what they do who understand everything about our team better than anybody else possibly could. So all that other stuff, we don’t have time for that.”
It’s unclear if Lamar Jackson will be back to face the Falcons on Christmas Eve or if his return would quiet the feeling that the Ravens offense needs to move in a different direction, but it seems any real course correction will wait until at least the end of the season. | 2022-12-19T21:52:56Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | John Harbaugh: We're not getting into talk about coaching staff changes - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/19/john-harbaugh-were-not-getting-into-talk-about-coaching-staff-changes/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/19/john-harbaugh-were-not-getting-into-talk-about-coaching-staff-changes/ |
I ate as much food as I wanted to eat. I drank as much wine as I wanted to drink. I lived for the day. For that day. I cleared a spot for the photograph on the mantle, and I found myself staring at it throughout the morning, afternoon, and evening.
I helped with the meal preparations, zealously and diligently and without complaining a single time. Linda had decided to salvage the ham that Buster had defiled. I carefully sliced pieces from the bone, so that our guests wouldn’t endure the imperfect presentation of a dinner-table centerpiece missing a conspicuous chunk that would soon be deposited somewhere in the backyard.
The house hummed with the full-blown happiness of Christmas. Everything felt different, special. I didn’t even brace myself for something to go haywire. I knew in my heart that it wouldn’t. Even if that was a hallucination, too, I welcomed it.
Nothing bothered me. Nothing. Linda’s parents were a joy. The other guests, including the snot-nosed nephews who knew how to push my buttons and loved doing it, warmed my heart. I wanted the day to be perfect, and perfect it was. Sure, there were a few minor things that on any other occasion would have left me feeling irritated. Not this time. Not this day.
Could it have been even more perfect? Sure. Linda and I could have rekindled the portion of our relationship that had filled the house with children. But I knew that ship had sailed, and I knew the direction it was heading. Trying to use the magic of Christmas to alter the inevitable would have only undermined the day. I knew my fate. I accepted it. I welcomed it.
I woke up early Tuesday morning, and I remembered that Earl Matherson had expected me to show up that same day to give them a rehearsal of my closing argument. I called Sally and asked as nicely as I could if we could postpone it until Wednesday. I heard the line go quiet as she pressed the mute button on her phone so that she could run it by Earl. Whatever she (or he) said next, I wasn’t going. But I didn’t want him to be upset with her about it.
When she returned, she asked me if I could be there at five o’clock the next afternoon. I smiled broadly as I promised that nothing would keep me from being there. Well, almost nothing.
I retrieved the newspaper, flipping through the ever-thinning collection of local stories that had no viable home on the Internet. I read the obituaries, studying the pictures of the dearly departed and the prose accompanying the official announcements that they had gone wherever they go, learning whatever they learned, doing whatever they do. It was obvious which ones were written by a family member and which ones had been pounded out by whichever low-level staffer who had studied journalism in college with slightly greater career aspirations in mind. Would the person who typed up the perfunctory details of the passing of Robert Lee Ashwell, 85, ever achieve what he or she wanted before someone else summarized the surviving family members of him or her? Had I? Had anyone?
How many people get to the end of the road with no regrets, having done everything they ever wanted to do, experienced everything they wanted to experience, seen everything they wanted to see? Most expect they’ll have more time than they get. Most wanted, quietly or not, something more or different from what they got. At the end, does it even matter? Rich or poor, tall or short, handsome or ugly, thin or fat, happy or sad, fulfilled or empty, the end comes for us all. A small handful are remembered beyond the boundaries of their own circle of family and friends. Once it’s all over, does that matter, either?
I sat there thinking about those things and others until I heard Macy’s small legs working their way from upstairs. She smiled at me, and I smiled back. I started crying again.
“Daddy, why are you sthad?”
“I’m not sad, Macy. I’m happy.”
“Why are you happy?”
“Well, I’m happy because we’re going to make pancakes.”
“You mustht really like pancakesth.”
I laughed and got up, scooping her from the ground and carrying her to the kitchen. Wrapping my arm around her skinny torso and dipping her down and lifting her up and listening to her cackle every step of the way. She helped me make a big batch of pancakes, enough to feed the family several times over. I dropped a few toward Buster, pretending each time that it was an accident. Macy laughed, sounding more and more like my brother, every time I said “oops” and Buster gobbled up a small, thin circle of grilled dough.
I asked her to go get Linda and the boys, to tell them we had pancakes and that I wanted everyone to have breakfast together. She relished being given a project, and she darted upstairs. Buster ordinarily would have followed her, but there were more pancakes. I fed him another one or two by hand before getting the syrup properly heated in the microwave and setting the table. I clanged the dishes and utensils a little more loudly than necessary, hoping to reinforce the message Macy would be delivering.
I knew there was a chance Mark and Joseph wouldn’t make it down. I decided not to let it bother me if they didn’t show up. I didn’t want them to think anything was amiss, and the last thing I wanted was for them to ever feel any regret about skipping what I’d hoped would be one final special family occasion before change came abruptly, decisively, and permanently.
The table was set. Wisps of steam rose from the syrup. The pancakes were on a large plate I’d slid into the oven, set on a temperature high enough to keep them warm but low enough to keep them from drying out.
I decided we’d eat at the good table. I lifted the plates and walked into the dining room. I began whistling Silver Bells. I got to the table and put the stack down on the surface.
“You got enough there for us?”
I looked up, and there they were. All three of them. My father sat at one end, fedora on his lap, overcoat still on. He’d licked his fingers and was working unsuccessfully on smoothing his bristly white hair. To his right was my mother, smiling at me. My brother sat across from her. He wasn’t quite smiling, but he wasn’t frowning, either. The lightning bolt was gone from above his eyebrow, and he looked far less like the skinny, wiry figure and more like the man who had last been inside my house the day before he died.
“I love the smell of pancakes,” my brother said.
“You always preferred French toast,” my mother said.
“I can make some if you want,” I said to my brother.
“We won’t be staying long enough to eat,” she said.
My father frowned at that.
“I could really go for some pancakes,” he said.
“We don’t have time,” she said. “You know that.”
“How did you like the picture?” my father said.
“How do you know about that?”
“Where did you think it came from? Santa Claus?”
I looked at my mother. Her smile was even broader.
“I’ve been carrying that around for a long time. I like where you put it.”
“My face looks weird in it,” my brother said.
“That’s because the two of you were monkeying around,” my father added. “But I didn’t mind. I knew it was the only way both of you would be smiling.”
“What did we do?” I said.
“You don’t remember?” Michael said.
“It’s not a quiz,” I said. “I truly don’t remember.”
“You sang that song you were just whistling,” my mother said.
“Silver bells, my butt smells,” my father sang in a choppy, uneven voice.
It came back to me. I started laughing. My brother did too, sounding more like Macy than himself.
My mother put her hand over her mouth, as she always used to do when something amused her. It was something that didn’t happen often, and I remembered how happy it made me when I’d find a way to make her laugh.
The moment passed, and I saw my father put his hat back on.
“Well,” he said. “It’s time.”
“Just like that?”
“We don’t make the rules,” he said.
He stood first, then my brother. He walked around the table and helped my mother to her feet. The three of them stood there. I watched them. They watched me. I knew they were waiting for me. I walked toward them, and the four of us wrapped our arms around each other in a group hug that hadn’t happened in a very, very long time, possibly not since the day the photo on the mantle was taken.
I closed my eyes in their embrace. A rush of memories flooded my mind, quickly and slowly at the same time. Mornings and evenings and outings and dinners and parties and trips in the car and every experience we’d shared in the short time, in the grand scheme of things, that we’d shared a home. I lost track of time. It could have been seconds. It could have been hours. It could have been years. I began to understand what Michael had been explaining to me. I felt fully within however they’d been existing since that fundamental change in their existences had occurred.
I dropped my arms and stepped away without intending to do it. It happened when it was supposed to happen. I opened my eyes. They were gone.
I stood there, wondering whether I’d done the right thing. Whether I’d made the right decision.
And then Macy came skipping into the dining room.
“They’re coming,” she said. “I told them we’re having pancakesth, and they said they’re coming.”
(On Our Way Home continues concludes later tonight. It’s being posted free of charge, with all chapters here. If you feel like paying for something, buy a copy of Playmakers instead.) | 2022-12-20T01:43:08Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | On Our Way Home: Chapter Thirty-one - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/19/on-our-way-home-chapter-thirty-one/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/19/on-our-way-home-chapter-thirty-one/ |
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