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The growing toll: At least 636 civilians have been killed and 1,125 injured in the war, the U.N. said, although that’s probably a big undercount.
What happened? Officials from the two countries met yesterday after Russia recently requested military equipment and other aid from China.
In Russia: A state TV employee burst onto the evening news chanting “stop the war” and holding a sign saying “they are lying to you here.” | null | null | null | null | null |
Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy on Russia, Jan. 6 and why she isn't seeking a fourth term
First elected to Congress in 2016, Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.) speaks to Jonathan Capehart about U.S. involvement in the defense of Ukraine, the investigation into Jan. 6 and what's next in her career. This conversation was recorded on March 2 for Washington Post Live. | null | null | null | null | null |
A protester in Annapolis last year holds a sign calling for "Fair Maps" during a rally against gerrymandering. (Brian Witte/AP)
“I wouldn’t bet against the plaintiffs, that state courts have been in fact more aggressive than the Supreme Court rooting out partisan gerrymandering,” said Mark Graber, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Law.
David Lublin, a professor at American University specializing in redistricting, said the fact that Democratic voters are dominant in Maryland could pose a challenge for plaintiffs who argue the party has an unfair advantage in the map. Democrats make up just over half of the state’s registered voters, while Republicans make up about one-quarter of them.
That leaves it up to Battaglia — and ultimately the Maryland Court of Appeals — to interpret whether the constitution’s broad protections for free elections and free speech extend to protect against extreme partisan gerrymandering, Lublin said. | null | null | null | null | null |
The trio of dissenters would be well-advised to keep several factors in mind. First, it would be a mistake to run purely as an alternative to Trump. The point is not only to snuff out his chance to return to the White House but also to prevent someone just as mendacious from assuming the 2024 mantle. It does the party and the country no good if the GOP swaps Trump for, say, Florida Gov. Rick DeSantis (a Jan. 6 denier, race baiter, persecutor of gay kids, architect of voting subversion bills, covid conspiratorialist and Trump sound-alike when it comes to tolerating extremists). | null | null | null | null | null |
Amazon’s Thursday night games will have Nielsen ratings
Amazon is telling sponsors that it expects to have 12.5 million viewers for Thursday Night Football in 2022. Whatever the real numbers are, everyone will know them — thanks to the folks at Nielsen.
John Ourand of Sports Business Journal reports that the TNF games will have Nielsen ratings for the next three seasons. It’s the first time Nielsen’s viewership measurement system will include a streaming service.
This introduces real transparency into the process, something that streaming companies have mostly resisted. As Ourand notes, they usually don’t share specific viewing information with advertisers. When they do, there’s no way to prove that the numbers are accurate.
Nielsen will provide viewership data for pregame, in-game, and post-game programming on Amazon Prime, Twitch, and the local broadcast channels that will carry each games on an over-the-air basis, in the two markets of the participating teams.
One industry executive with extensive knowledge of viewing habits predicts that, for the best games on the slate, Amazon’s average-minute audience will land in the range of 5-7 million.
The Nielsen numbers will debut next Thursday night, when Amazon gets a preseason test drive for the game between the 49ers and Texans. Those numbers will undoubtedly be far lower than the Week Two debut in 30 days, when the Chargers play the Chiefs.
2 responses to “Amazon’s Thursday night games will have Nielsen ratings”
This seems only fair for advertisers, especially if the ratings are actually less than half—as the one executive predicts—what Amazon has projected. | 2022-08-16T14:59:57Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Amazon's Thursday night games will have Nielsen ratings - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/amazons-thursday-night-games-will-have-nielsen-ratings/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/amazons-thursday-night-games-will-have-nielsen-ratings/ |
One of the topics of conversation at Giants head coach Brian Daboll’s press conference on Monday was whether the team has asked defensive coordinator Wink Martindale to dial back blitzes during practice in order for the team’s offense to find its footing, so it’s not hard to figure out how quarterback Daniel Jones and company have been faring against their teammates this summer.
Daboll said that he generally thinks it is good for offenses to have to deal with an aggressive defense, but admitted that he’s said to “give me two or three so every play isn’t mental gymnastics of figuring out different things” for the unit. As for the lack of evidence that the offense is figuring things out, Daboll said that is a process he’s seen play out throughout his coaching career.
“That’s why we practice,” Daboll said. “We’re all about the process, so if you have a bad day, you regroup, you look at it, you talk about it. Obviously, you want to translate good things in practice to games. We’re evaluating players right now. We’re working through a lot of different schemes. That’s not much different than the last 22 years I’ve been around. But we want to perform well when it counts the most, which is on gameday.”
The Giants didn’t overhaul their offensive roster after hiring Daboll this offseason and chose to go forward with quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley in the final years of their contracts. It seems clear that the results have to improve a great deal in order to avoid that overhaul again next offseason.
2 responses to “Brian Daboll on offense’s struggles: That’s why we practice”
subsailorjoe says:
Ummmmm no Josh Allen?
For all his talent it would be hard to view Barkley as anything more than a massive disappointment. This is why you don’t draft RBs in the 1st round, especially with top 10 picks | 2022-08-16T15:00:03Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Brian Daboll on offense's struggles: That's why we practice - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/brian-daboll-on-offenses-struggles-thats-why-we-practice/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/brian-daboll-on-offenses-struggles-thats-why-we-practice/ |
In the same week that he signed a major second contract, Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson was sued for failing to appear at his youth football camp in May.Through his agent and lawyer, Johnson has now issued a statement calling the allegations “completely false.”
The statement claims that FlewWorks, the company that arranged the camp, committed “countless breaches” of the arrangement with Johnson, “including the failure to facilitate his timely arrival.”
The statement calls the lawsuit “frivolous” and a “money grab.” (Isn’t it funny how every lawsuit is a “money grab,” until the defendant decides to grab his checkbook and write settlement checks?) It alleges that FlewWorks has made a “petty” effort to seek “go-away” money from the professional athlete.
None of this matters. And it’s not as if the lawsuit against Johnson was creating an outcry for a statement. Frankly, the statement adds nothing to the situation. It’s chock full of predictable cliches aimed at swaying public opinion, at a time when the public has no opinion whatsoever.
The far better way to handle situations like this is to ditch the obvious public statement and to make any and all appropriate defenses in court, eventually proving that the case is a frivolous money grab.
Until, of course, the defendant is confronted with sufficient evidence to prompt him to grab his checkbook and write a settlement check. | 2022-08-16T15:00:29Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Diontae Johnson's representatives call youth football camp lawsuit "frivolous" and a "money grab" - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/diontae-johnsons-representatives-call-youth-football-camp-lawsuit-frivolous-and-a-money-grab/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/diontae-johnsons-representatives-call-youth-football-camp-lawsuit-frivolous-and-a-money-grab/ |
4 responses to “Travis Kelce: Patrick Mahomes keeps finding ways to get better”
Mahomes is only 26 years old and he is nowhere near as good as he is going to be. Many QBs play their very best football in their 30s. Haters can hate but he is undeniably one of the top 3 QBs in the league and probably will be moving forward.
As long as he has the drive to continue to improve, the future is bright for Mahomes. He also don’t seem to have too big of a head like ARod.
Slow down people. The one and done dynasty isn’t as good as the hype, and their defense doesn’t scare anyone | 2022-08-16T15:00:54Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Travis Kelce: Patrick Mahomes keeps finding ways to get better - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/travis-kelce-patrick-mahomes-keeps-finding-ways-to-get-better/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/travis-kelce-patrick-mahomes-keeps-finding-ways-to-get-better/ |
For any minor league to thrive, the quarterbacks need to play like major leaguers. The latest new pro football developmental league will devote additional resources to improving quarterback play for every team.
The XFL has hired Jordan Palmer to serve as the director of quarterback development.
The brother of Carson Palmer, Jordan spent seven years in the NFL before becoming a respected and accomplished private quarterback coach. He was a four-year starter at UTEP.
“The most important position in football is the quarterback, arguably one of the hardest positions to play in all sports,” said XFL senior V.P. of player personnel Doug Whaley in a press release. “Jordan works with some of the most recognizable young quarterbacks in the NFL – Joe Burrow and Josh Allen, among others – and it’ll be great to have his imprint on our players as they further advance their professional development. Jordan was also an early advocate for using technology for training and performance improvement, which aligns with our commitment to innovation. We are thrilled to have him as a crucial member of our football operations team.”
Jordan Palmer will work with the coaching staff of each XFL team, in order to create a “thoughtful and advanced quarterback development program.”
It’s very smart to invest in the development of quarterbacks. It could make the games better, and it could make the quarterbacks better — making the XFL more attractive for quarterbacks who are attracting interest from the XFL and the USFL, the two competing spring leagues.
1 responses to “XFL hires Jordan Palmer as league-wide director of quarterback development”
Smart move by the XFL, hopefully this doesn’t preclude him from mentoring NFL QBs as well. | 2022-08-16T17:12:53Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | XFL hires Jordan Palmer as league-wide director of quarterback development - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/xfl-hires-jordan-palmer-as-league-wide-director-of-quarterback-development/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/xfl-hires-jordan-palmer-as-league-wide-director-of-quarterback-development/ |
The Giants signed wide receiver Kenny Golladay to a big free agent contract last year, and so far he hasn’t lived up to expectations. Golladay himself will acknowledge that.
Golladay said today that he knows a lot of people think the Giants overpaid and he has underproduced, but he believes his self-criticism will motivate him to work hard and turn things around.
With the structure of Golladay’s four-year, $72 million contract, it really isn’t feasible for the Giants to get rid of Golladay this year, and probably not next year, either. He’s not going anywhere, so the Giants have to hope he takes the criticism to heart, and gets better.
3 responses to “Kenny Golladay: People criticizing me are no harder than I am on myself”
“I’m my biggest critic pretty much, so if other people are saying things about me, they’re not going to be harder than I am on myself,” Golladay said.”
A lot of people say this without recognizing it means little if you don’t also write your own checks. And also…by saying “they’re not going to be harder than I am on myself”…..does that mean you are delaying cashing those checks, or even refunding some money until your performance improves? Otherwise..how are you harder on yourself?
Just another example of a player appearing to tap out after getting paid. He is not the first one and won’t be the last. Golladay fleeced the Giants.
There are reasons why the Lions didn’t resign this guy, even though they desperately needed receiving help, they still let him walk. | 2022-08-16T18:49:22Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Kenny Golladay: People criticizing me are no harder than I am on myself - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/kenny-golladay-people-criticizing-me-are-no-harder-than-i-am-on-myself/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/kenny-golladay-people-criticizing-me-are-no-harder-than-i-am-on-myself/ |
The Buccaneers have not officially announced the return of defensive end Carl Nassib to the team. However, it’s obvious that he’ll be back.
On Tuesday, coach Todd Bowles basically confirmed it when asked about the reports that Nassib has signed with the team.
“Carl’s tough in the run,” Bowles said. “When he played, when he was here with us, he’s a very good pass-rusher on the outside and he can also play inside in some nickel situations. He has a lot of versatility, he brings a lot of energy, brings a lot of toughness and he understands the system. He was comfortable in it. We look forward to him coming here.”
Nassib spent 2018 and 2019 with the Buccaneers, overlapping with Bowles in the second season of his prior stint. He had six sacks that year.
He also served as a defensive captain in 2019.
1 responses to “Todd Bowles welcomes Carl Nassib back to Tampa”
So nice to be wanted! | 2022-08-16T18:49:47Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Todd Bowles welcomes Carl Nassib back to Tampa - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/todd-bowles-welcomes-carl-nassib-back-to-tampa/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/todd-bowles-welcomes-carl-nassib-back-to-tampa/ |
Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin has taken another significant step in his recovery from last year’s torn ACL.
Godwin did seven-on-seven work for the first time in training camp today. Reporters on the scene said Godwin looked good running and cutting.
Godwin tore his ACL on December 19, so he’s not yet eight months removed from the injury, and his recovery seems to be on schedule, perhaps ahead of schedule.
The Bucs haven’t put a timeline on Godwin’s return, but it appears likely that he’ll be on the field when the Bucs take on the Cowboys in Week One.
1 responses to “Chris Godwin continues to make progress in ACL recovery, gets first 7-on-7 work”
You just have to wonder…. | 2022-08-16T21:09:51Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Chris Godwin continues to make progress in ACL recovery, gets first 7-on-7 work - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/chris-godwin-continues-to-make-progress-in-acl-recovery-gets-first-7-on-7-work/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/chris-godwin-continues-to-make-progress-in-acl-recovery-gets-first-7-on-7-work/ |
The Commanders announced a handful of roster moves on Tuesday morning that dropped their roster to 86 players and they made one more in the afternoon ahead of the deadline for all teams to get down to 85 players.
Defensive back Troy Apke was released in the final move of the day. Apke was a fourth-round pick in 2018 and he re-signed with the team in March.
Apke played in 50 games and made nine starts while also seeing regular action on special teams. He has picked up 68 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery over the course of his career.
The Commanders will have to cut the roster to 80 players by next Tuesday and they’ll set their initial 53-man roster on August 30.
2 responses to “Commanders release Troy Apke”
Apke is a great athlete but one of the worst football players I’ve ever seen in my life! He literally has no clue about angles on tackling and never improved. I have no idea how he lasted 4 years in this league as a 4th round pick who could only play special teams!
Commanders? Am I missing something? | 2022-08-16T21:10:07Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Commanders release Troy Apke - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/commanders-release-troy-apke/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/commanders-release-troy-apke/ |
The Texans seem to be smitten with fourth-round running back Dameon Pierce. He had a solid preseason debut, and coach Lovie Smith hasn’t ruled out Pierce becoming the Week One starter.
On Tuesday, offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton was asked about the first-year sensation who could help give the Houston offense an element it needs, with a potentially strong presence in the running game.
A reporter rattled off a list of attributes for Hamilton — vision, foot speed, cutting ability — and asked him whether those are the things Pierce possesses.
“You said it,” Hamilton said. “You knocked it out of the park. Exactly. That’s what we saw the other night. Just a guy that can create his own yards. And he’s a tough runner.”
Hamilton said that Pierce’s vision was “absolutely” apparent on film. The only question is whether Pierce can handle a heavy workload in the NFL, since he didn’t do that in college at Florida.
“You’re looking at what players can do,” Hamilton said. “There’s a ton of different offenses in college football and it’s hard to, at times, try and predict how a player that plays within a scheme is going to be able to adjust and adapt to the pro game. But we do know that certain skill sets have a better chance of adapting to our game.”
As a senior, Pierce had only 100 rushing attempt (for 574 yards) and 19 receptions (for 216). Even with only 119 total touches, he scored 16 touchdowns. He had 503 rushing yards as a junior, 305 rushing yards as a sophomore, and 424 rushing yards as a freshman.
Pierce entered the preseason opener behind Marlon Mack and Rex Burkhead on the depth chart. That figures to change, sooner than later. | 2022-08-16T21:10:31Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Pep Hamilton: Dameon Pierce "can create his own yards" - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/pep-hamilton-dameon-pierce-can-create-his-own-yards/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/pep-hamilton-dameon-pierce-can-create-his-own-yards/ |
5 responses to “Vikings reduce their roster to 85 players”
To be fair, they probably only have 10-20 players. The rest are just dead weight.
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And the Pack has only one, and anymore, he’s useless in the playoffs.
And in green bay TT continues to sleep at the wheel once again.
I think the Vikings are doing everything they possibly can to claw their way back to being a .500 football team once again.
We’re giving it our best shot to crack the .500 ceiling this season. | 2022-08-16T21:11:07Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Vikings reduce their roster to 85 players - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/vikings-reduce-their-roster-to-85-players/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/vikings-reduce-their-roster-to-85-players/ |
Walker is dealing with a hernia issue, coach Pete Carroll said after practice.
“Ken’s got a little hernia thing that he’s working on and we’ve got to get through that,” Carroll said, via Brady Henderson of ESPN. “So, I don’t know what to tell you yet, but it’s something that we can attend to and all that. We’ve just got to make sure that he’s OK by the opener is what we’re shooting for.”
3 responses to “Ken Walker dealing with a hernia issue”
High quality Depth at RB is essential in today’s NFL. Yet, it’s one of the lowest paid, high impact spots on almost every team. Hopefully, Walker’s Hernia is easily fixed or will heal quickly.
Whether it’s a sports hernia or a garden variety inguinal hernia, if he requires surgical repair he’ll be out 8 to 12 weeks.
I’m guessing he got that hernia while straining to carry around Pete’s ego… | 2022-08-17T00:16:40Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Ken Walker dealing with a hernia issue - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/ken-walker-dealing-with-a-hernia-issue/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/ken-walker-dealing-with-a-hernia-issue/ |
Tight end Adam Shaheen passed his physical in Miami and participated in training camp until last Tuesday. That day, he was traded to the Texans.
The trade didn’t take, because Shaheen didn’t pass his physical in Houston. Then, after Shaheen got back to Miami, he ended up on injured reserve.
On Tuesday, Miami coach Mike McDaniel was asked to explain the chain of events that resulted in Shaheen going from healthy and practicing to failing a physical to landing on IR.
“That is a classic example of the process of the National Football League just being spot on,” McDaniel told reporters. “That’s the reason why it exists. He was practicing with nothing holding him back. We 100 percent thought he was 100 percent healthy. Such is the nature of veteran players. You occur nicks along the way and that’s why you have a physical before things can be finalized and the whole trade processed.
The curveball meant that the player the Dolphins thought they’d be shedding from the payroll will make $1.65 million in 2022. He’ll be a free agent in 2023. He can sign with the Texans, or anyone else, at that time. | 2022-08-17T00:16:46Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Mike McDaniel explains Adam Shaheen's adventure from trade to rejected trade to IR - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/mike-mcdaniel-explains-adam-shaheens-adventure-from-trade-to-rejected-trade-to-ir/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/mike-mcdaniel-explains-adam-shaheens-adventure-from-trade-to-rejected-trade-to-ir/ |
Plenty of coaches become sensitized to the practice of trimming the roster from 90 players to 53, along with the constant churning of the bottom of the regular-season roster and practice squad. New Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett may eventually become jaded when it comes to letting players go, but for now it’s something that bothers him.
“First and foremost, it sucks,” Hackett told reporters on Tuesday, the day the Broncos reduced their roster from 90 to 85. “These guys have been busting their behinds all the way back — you go to Phase One [of the offseason program]. They’re part of our group, they’re part of our family. We appreciate everything that those guys have done. There is a human element, but yes, I will talk with everybody. It’s one of those things. The guys know — I embrace those rough times. I just want to be sure that I always thank them for everything they have done.”
And that’s only after five cuts. Next Tuesday, it will be five more. The following Tuesday, 27.
It’s hard for those who genuinely care about the men who are still trying to chase their dreams. And it’s easy to develop a hard shell about it, because for coaches who have extended careers it’s something that happens over and over and over again.
1 responses to “Nathaniel Hackett on roster cuts: “It sucks””
Welcome to being a head coach!! | 2022-08-17T00:16:46Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Nathaniel Hackett on roster cuts: "It sucks" - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/nathaniel-hackett-on-roster-cuts-it-sucks/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/16/nathaniel-hackett-on-roster-cuts-it-sucks/ |
Safety Derwin James has not done more than walkthroughs at Chargers practices this summer as he’s staging a “hold-in” while looking for a contract extension, but the team isn’t showing any concern about his readiness for the regular season.
Head coach Brandon Staley spent time at Tuesday’s press conference rattling off a long list of things that James brings to the team’s defense in what sounded like a pretty good pitch for that extension. He also said that he doesn’t think James’ ability to do any of those things will be diminished by the lack of time he’s spent on the field this summer.
“I don’t worry about Derwin,” Staley said, via Elliott Teaford of the Los Angeles Daily News. “Derwin has given us no reason to worry. It would be one thing if he wasn’t here, but we see him every day. He’s in the best shape of his life. This is the first time in a while he’s had a full offseason with nothing to prohibit him from training. He feels great, so that gives us a lot of confidence.”
Staley offered no hint of where things stand in contract negotiations, although sooner would be better when it comes to feeling confident that James will truly be as prepared as possible for the year to come. | 2022-08-17T13:00:44Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Chargers not worried about Derwin James being ready for the regular season - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/chargers-not-worried-about-derwin-james-being-ready-for-the-regular-season/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/chargers-not-worried-about-derwin-james-being-ready-for-the-regular-season/ |
Head coach Mike McDaniel did not say exactly what Waddle’s injury is during a Wednesday press conference. But he did make it seem like Waddle should be back sooner than later.
“There’s something that I don’t really need to get into, that he could’ve practiced with,” McDaniel said. “With our elite medical staff having history with stuff, we were trying to be preventative. He wanted to practice. We disallowed it to try to be in front of something. But I expect him to practice again in training camp. We’ll take it day by day, but sometimes you have to protect people from themselves. And that’s a great problem to have, especially with an elite talent like that.”
McDaniel added, “We try to be as accountable as possible in preventing as many soft-tissue [injuries] as you can. You’ll never be 100 percent but you try to pay attention to each individual player, tailor things so they can avoid those things as best as possible.”
Entering his second season, the speedy Waddle should be a critical piece for Miami’s offense in McDaniel’s first season. He caught 104 passes for 1,015 yards with six touchdowns as a rookie last season. Now paired with Tyreek Hill, Waddle could be in store for an even bigger Year Two.
1 responses to “Jaylen Waddle held out of practice for precautionary reasons”
Here it comes…..lol | 2022-08-17T15:04:01Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Jaylen Waddle held out of practice for precautionary reasons - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/jaylen-waddle-held-out-of-practice-for-precautionary-reasons/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/jaylen-waddle-held-out-of-practice-for-precautionary-reasons/ |
Media mogul Byron Allen wanted to buy the Denver Broncos. It didn’t work. He thinks it eventually will.
Allen recently told TMZ.com that he believes he’ll buy the next team that is for sale.
“When you lose to the richest family in the world, it’s not a bad day in the office,” Allen said, referring to the Wal-Mart Walton-Penner group that plunked down $4.65 billion for the Broncos.
“Listen,” Allen added. “Buying an NFL football team is a process and we had the pleasure of being a part of that process. We didn’t get this one, but I’m highly confident we’ll get the next one.”
There’s nothing wrong with confidence and optimism. But Allen’s group wasn’t even among the finalists for the Broncos. Also, and as PFT has reported, Josh Harris would have made a $5 billion bid for the Broncos if that would have closed the deal. When he failed to get an assurance that, for example, the Walton-Penners wouldn’t have simply gone to $5 billion and one penny, Harris bowed out.
When the next team is for sale (possibly the Seahawks, after May 1, 2024), Harris possibly will be willing to make the same $5 billion bid. Unless there’s someone else who would pay $5 billion and one penny.
To get a team, Allen will have to be in that ballpark, with 30 percent of the cash coming from his own pocket — unless the league is willing to relax the rules in order to ensure that there will be an ownership group with a controlling owner who is Black.
5 responses to “Byron Allen believes he’ll buy the next NFL team that’s for sale”
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As I see it, standards exist for a reason. So if they are willing to relax the rule for one person, then there is no reason for the rule to exist.
The NFL should put the Cleveland Browns or the Washington Commanders up for sale and let HIM automatically get the team with his last bid from the Broncos attempt. Solves so many problems the NFL IS HAVING WITH THOSE franchises.
The reason for the rule is to protect the franchise to ensure the “owner” has the necessary capital to run the franchise, competitively. Relaxing the rule isn’t good for that goal’s achievement. I’m guessing it won’t be relaxed & rich minorities who want to be the majority owner of an NFL team will need to find that 30 percent.
I wonder if it matters to him which NFL franchise becomes available, or if it is just the next one no matter what team it is. | 2022-08-17T15:08:28Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Byron Allen believes he'll buy the next NFL team that's for sale - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/byron-allen-believes-hell-buy-the-next-nfl-thats-for-sale/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/byron-allen-believes-hell-buy-the-next-nfl-thats-for-sale/ |
With the season approaching, get your copy of Playmakers
PublicAffairs
Five months and two days ago, Playmakers debuted on what was our busiest traffic day of the year. Now that traffic is once again reaching significant levels, it’s time to dust off the spiel in an effort to sell a few more books.
Buy Playmakers.
That’s the short version. If it worked, you don’t need to keep reading. (Unless you want to.)
At only $18.76 (a bargain for a hardcover edition that will look good on the shelf or the coffee table or as one of the things on which you prop your laptop for Zoom calls so that the camera doesn’t permit a full inventory of your nose hairs), Playmakers provides a 20-year tour of the NFL. With short, simple chapters that can be consumed in any order you want, you’ll learn (or re-learn) plenty of things about the modern NFL.
How it works. How it doesn’t. How it handles key aspects of the game and the business surrounding it. What it needs to worry about in the future. And if you like what you see here, you’ll like what’s in Playmakers, since it’s written in the same style.
Of course, the stuff you see here is free, so there’s that. But Playmakers is only $18.76. And we’ve done the surveys in the past. Most of you have plenty of discretionary income. And, again, it’s only $18.76.
For those of you who bought it months ago, thanks again for your support. And if you’re wondering whether there will be a follow up, we’re currently kicking around some intriguing ideas for another non-fiction football-based offering. Also, I’ve balanced out my propensity to write blurbs in the range of 200 to 700 words with an every-damn-night habit of cranking out 1,000 to 3,000 words of shits-and-giggles fiction (not to be confused with the fiction some would say I regularly write during the day) that gradually but inevitably has become six novels, with a seventh in progress.
Eventually, I’ll be making those available, in some form or fashion. I’ve been toying with the idea of posting one of them here, a chapter at a time. For free. Meaning you’d absolutely get your money’s worth. As you always do. Hopefully you also will when plunking own $18.76 for Playmakers. | 2022-08-17T16:57:06Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | With the season approaching, get your copy of Playmakers - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/with-the-season-approaching-get-your-copy-of-playmakers/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/with-the-season-approaching-get-your-copy-of-playmakers/ |
The Deshaun Watson settlement talks continue. Whether and when they end remains to be seen.
One of the practical problems is that there’s no real deadline for getting a deal done. Appeals officer Peter Harvey will hold the ruling until the NFL tells him that the settlement possibilities have been exhausted. With the league apparently very willing to opt for settlement over imposing a lengthy suspension and taking their chances in court, the league apparently will be willing to let this play out a little longer.
Against that backdrop, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com has reported that “sources close to the Deshaun Watson situation believe a resolution could come today or tomorrow.” (Or it could happen the next day. Or the next.)
Graziano adds that “it’s unclear how much longer [Harvey] will wait.” The truth is he’ll wait as long as the league tells him to wait.
As one source with knowledge of the dynamics explains it to PFT, it has been the case for a while that a settlement could come at any time — or it could blow up and not happen.
So where is the sweet spot? We’re currently getting the impression that the suspension will be up to 12 games and the fine will be south of $5 million. If there’s a settlement.
Either way, stay tuned. Without a real and imminent deadline, however, you could be staying tuned for a while.
5 responses to “Deshaun Watson settlement remains possible at any time (but a real deadline would be helpful)”
shocknawe says:
bcraze says:
This is the NFL’s way of punishing the Browns for signing him. They will let him play this preseason, then suspend him for a year before week one. That way, he will have no training camp or preseason to get ready for 2023
A settlement will finally start the process of the blood-thirsty media and hypocritical fans of other teams moving on to the next big issue.
There’s no way Watson accepts a 12 game suspension as a settlement. He needs 6 games this season for it to count as a contractual year. It would make more sense for him to take it to court on the (slim) chance of keeping it at 6 games if they give him 12 or more.
Settlement would likely be 8-10 games. Since NFL reportedly already offered 12 prior to Robinson’s ruling it would be odd if they were still stuck at 12. They don’t want to risk this case happening outside of NYSD.
What should have been expedited was the time that Watson was given to try and settle it. HE is the offender, not the fans. | 2022-08-17T17:14:11Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Deshaun Watson settlement remains possible at any time (but a real deadline would be helpful) - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/deshaun-watson-settlement-remains-possible-at-any-time-but-a-real-deadline-would-be-helpful/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/deshaun-watson-settlement-remains-possible-at-any-time-but-a-real-deadline-would-be-helpful/ |
Bradley Bozeman has competed with Pat Elflein for the starting center job at Panthers camp this summer, but his bid will be hurt by an injury he suffered in Tuesday’s practice.
Bozeman was carted off the field after a lower leg injury. On Wednesday, head coach Matt Rhule said that Bozeman avoided the most serious injury that was on the table but that he is going to miss multiple weeks while he recovers.
“We were told on the field yesterday it could be a fracture, thankfully it’s not,” Rhule said, via Schuyler Callihan of SI.com. “It’s not just a high ankle sprain, there’s some complications, some other injuries inside. We think it’s going to be 2-3 weeks depending on how healing goes. So, not the best news but obviously not as bad as we thought.”
That absence will make it likelier that Elflein is handling the snapping duties at the start of the regular season. | 2022-08-17T18:43:02Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Bradley Bozeman to miss a few weeks with ankle injury - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/bradley-bozeman-to-miss-a-few-weeks-with-ankle-injury/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/bradley-bozeman-to-miss-a-few-weeks-with-ankle-injury/ |
Confidence. The food of the wise man but the liquor of the fool.
For football players, confidence is critical. Confidence to, at times, the point of delusion.
Texans quarterback Davis Mills recently displayed extreme confidence, telling Peter King, “We’re ready to go out and shock the world.”
On Wednesday, coach Lovie Smith downplayed Mills’ remark.
“Are we capable of winning this year?” Smith told reporters. “Your quarterback, yeah, I want him to have confidence. That’s all he’s really saying is, ‘Guys, we’ve been working hard. We think we’re a pretty good football team, and if we do well, you’re not picking us to win much.’ I’d say no one here is. So it’s going to probably be a shock if that happens. I think it’s no more than that. You’re the quarterback, you really have a pulse on what you’re seeing each day. We think we’re going to be, I think we’re going to be pretty good this year. If that happens, you can say that Lovie said we’re going to shock the world, because nobody is picking us. Isn’t that how it goes? If we do well, what’s the story? Is it going to be a shock to you if we do well? Yeah, I’ll answer it for you. Yeah. It’s no more than that.”
Mills hasn’t spent enough time in the NFL to know based on training camp whether the Texans will be better than expected. But they’re expected to not be very good. Maybe they will be better than expected. Expectations definitely are low.
For any NFL team, it’s always better to have low expectations. If the Texans go 8-9, it’s a huge success. If the Bills go 9-8, it’s an abject failure.
The reality is that the talent gap among the various teams is narrower than ever, and plenty of games turn on a play here and a play there. A gust of wind. A bounce of the ball. A wrong step at the wrong time. A right step at the right time. A bad call, which for the other team counts as a good call.
The fact that teams will have their guard down for the Texans will give them an edge. Can they get lucky and win some games early in the year? Sure. If they do, they can maybe parlay that into a better season than anyone reasonably could expect.
The first chance to catch a team flat-footed comes in Week One, when the Colts come to town.
6 responses to “Lovie Smith downplays Davis Mills’ claim that Texans are ready to “shock the world””
drunkinybor says:
Lovie Love me some of the worst defenses in Bucs history. Good luck
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just lost to Washington by blowing a 24-0 second-quarter lead. After looking like a dominant team for the first 20-odd minutes of play, Tampa Bay absolutely collapsed — and almost all of it was self-inflicted. And all of that — all of it — falls on Lovie Smith’s plate.
Texans will finish with a better record than the Watson led Browns.
It would shock the world if they win six games this year.
Hoping they have a successful season, and good on Mills for firing up his teammates. Pulling for the underdog QB to do something special and prove a lot of people wrong this year.
bluehen74 says:
Lovie got the Bears to the playoffs in his second season, and the Super Bowl the next season, with Rex Morgan at QB. While winning is not just about the quarterback position, it is a huge part of it. Can Davis Mills play as well as Rex Morgan? | 2022-08-17T18:43:38Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Lovie Smith downplays Davis Mills' claim that Texans are ready to "shock the world" - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/lovie-smith-downplays-davis-mills-claim-that-texans-are-ready-to-shock-the-world/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/lovie-smith-downplays-davis-mills-claim-that-texans-are-ready-to-shock-the-world/ |
The joint practices between the Panthers and Patriots devolved into multiple fights over the last two days, but none of the scraps dredged up any bad memories from the last time the two teams played in a regular season game.
In that game, Patriots quarterback Mac Jones grabbed Panthers defensive end Brian Burns‘ ankle and twisted him to the ground as Burns tried to pursue the football after stripping Jones of it during a sack. Burns’ former teammate Haason Reddick and others labeled it a dirty play and Burns said he would have liked an apology as the play sent him to the medical tent, but Jones declined to offer one because he said he thought Burns had the ball.
While Jones didn’t apologize, he said Wednesday that the two players spoke at the Pro Bowl and buried the hatchet.
“Yeah, I talked with Brian,” Jones said in a press conference. “We already made up at the Pro Bowl, and everything’s good. He’s a great player and I just love watching him on film: how he can speed-rush. He’s got good power and he’s just a great football player. He really doesn’t like to talk, he just kind of keeps getting after it and keeps getting after it and I’m kind of the same way. So, we’re definitely friends now. It’s all good.”
The same couldn’t be said for their teammates and we’ll see if bad feelings boil over again when the two teams play a preseason game on Friday night.
1 responses to “Mac Jones: Brian Burns and I are definitely friends now”
Brady would have been celebrated for doing anything in the name of winning. | 2022-08-17T20:22:51Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Mac Jones: Brian Burns and I are definitely friends now - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/mac-jones-brian-burns-and-i-are-definitely-friends-now/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/mac-jones-brian-burns-and-i-are-definitely-friends-now/ |
Earlier this month, Cardinals receiver Hollywood Brown was arrested for speeding. Ordinarily, speeding won’t get a guy arrested. Driving 126 miles per hour will.
“I want to learn from it,” Brown said Wednesday in his first press conference since the incident, via Darren Urban of the team’s official website. “I’m not a guy who gets into trouble, so I want to put in my past and make sure I’m always doing the right things at all times.” (At least he didn’t say he wants to put it in the rear-view mirror.)
Brown called his decision “very disappointing.” He said he wasn’t late for practice when it happened.
“I have a lot of kids that look up to me, so I want to set the right example at all times,” Brown said.
It’s good that he learned from it. That’s what life is about. We all do dumb things. Either we learn from them, or we don’t.
If he was indeed driving that fast, he’s lucky he has a chance to not make the same mistake twice. Yes, plenty of cars are available that can operate at speeds far faster than the law allows. Yes, there’s a certain rush that comes from a car that, as it goes faster and faster, seemingly wants to go even faster — especially on a clear, dry road with no other traffic around.
But 126? That’s dangerously fast, under any conditions. Hopefully those kids who look up to Brown will learn from his mistake, without making it on their own. | 2022-08-17T20:52:26Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Hollywood Brown on his arrest for speeding: "I want to learn from it" - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/hollywood-brown-on-his-arrest-for-speeding-i-want-to-learn-from-it/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/hollywood-brown-on-his-arrest-for-speeding-i-want-to-learn-from-it/ |
Burrow revealed that Wednesday during his first news conference since the surgery, which came on the day Bengals veterans reported to training camp.
“It wasn’t normal appendicitis that you hear about,” Burrow said, via Ben Baby of ESPN. “I didn’t really feel much. Just getting checked out and had some discomfort, so we thought we’d get it checked out. Turns out I had it. So we had to get it fixed.”
Burrow’s hospital stay resulted in a weight loss, though he declined to reveal how much weight he lost. He watched practices from a medical cart when he returned to camp and finally was cleared to begin throwing two weeks after the procedure.
He took another step in his return Wednesday when he participated in team drills at practice for the first time since the procedure. | 2022-08-17T20:52:32Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Joe Burrow reveals appendix ruptured: "It wasn't normal appendicitis" - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/joe-burrow-reveals-appendix-ruptured-it-wasnt-normal-appendicitis/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/joe-burrow-reveals-appendix-ruptured-it-wasnt-normal-appendicitis/ |
Lions rookie linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, one of the stars of Hard Knocks’ first two episodes, worked with the first team in a joint practice with the Colts on Wednesday.
The sixth-round selection has impressed coaches and veteran teammates with his study habits, technique and instincts, per Kyle Meinke of mlive.com. Rodriquez is outshining veterans Chris Board and Jarrad Davis as well as Derrick Barnes, a fifth-round pick in 2021, as he seeks to win a starting job alongside Alex Anzalone.
The Lions haven’t had a rookie drafted as late as Rodriguez win a starting job out of training camp since linebacker Dennis Gibson, an eighth-round selection in 1987.
“I mean if the coaches want me to start, I’ll start,” Rodriguez said after practice, via Meinke. “It’s not a big deal. It’s just one of those things where I’ll step in that role and just be that vocal leader out here.”
Linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard praised Rodriguez during a recent film session in the meeting room, a scene shared on Hard Knocks. Sheppard admitted he was trying to find a reason not to play Rodriguez, while challenging the veteran players to keep him out of the lineup.
Rodriguez has earned the nickname “Rodrigo!” among the team, and fans have been chanting his nickname after seeing Hard Knocks. Rodriguez insists he isn’t letting the sudden attention or the promotion go to his head.
“I really just stick around my family,” Rodriguez said. “I just kind of listen to the family, go about my way and stay off social media. I just kind of stay to myself and have a small circle right around me.” | 2022-08-17T22:06:31Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Malcolm Rodriguez practices with first team in joint practice - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/malcolm-rodriguez-practices-with-first-team-in-joint-practice/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/malcolm-rodriguez-practices-with-first-team-in-joint-practice/ |
Ravens rookie center Tyler Linderbaum is on track to return to practice soon.
Linderbaum suffered a foot injury two weeks ago, and initial reports indicated it could be serious. But today coach John Harbaugh said he’s expecting Linderbaum back at practice on Friday.
“Tyler Linderbaum will probably be back on the field Friday doing individual,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t anticipate him playing in the game, but he’ll start working his way back in, looks like on Friday. We’ll see, but that’s how it looks right now.”
Linderbaum won the Rimington Trophy as the best center in college football last year at Iowa, and the Ravens chose him with the 25th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. | 2022-08-17T22:07:02Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Tyler Linderbaum likely to return to Ravens' practice on Friday - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/tyler-linderbaum-likely-to-return-to-ravens-practice-on-friday/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/tyler-linderbaum-likely-to-return-to-ravens-practice-on-friday/ |
Receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown will see his former team and teammates this weekend when the Cardinals host the Ravens. The Cardinals traded for Brown and a third-round pick on draft night in return for the 23rd overall selection.
Brown insisted Wednesday that he has nothing against his former team but needed to play elsewhere.
“It’s about happiness,” Brown said, via Darren Urban of the team website. “I want to feel like I am a part of something to win. At the Ravens, I just felt like sometimes they really didn’t need me. Regardless if I was there or not, they were going to win games.
The Cardinals definitely will need him, especially in the first six games when DeAndre Hopkins serves a suspension. Brown is reunited with his former University of Oklahoma teammate Kyler Murray, which helps in his transition.
“There are always going to be growing pains the first year in the offense,” coach Kliff Kingsbury said. “But as we have said all along his familiarity with the offense based on his college experience definitely helps, and his comfort level with the quarterback is huge. I expect by Week 1 he’ll understand what we are trying to accomplish.”
Brown, who declared his hamstring 100 percent, won’t play Sunday as he continues to work his way back. But he will be ready for Week 1 and what he expects to be a breakout season after catching 91 passes for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games last season for Baltimore.
“Whenever I am in between the lines,” Brown said, “I’m ready.”
3 responses to “Hollywood Brown: I just felt like sometimes the Ravens really didn’t need me”
No, it’s not about happiness.
The way the ball bounced off your hands speaks volumes on how much they needed you…
Didn’t you have almost 100 catches and over 1000yrds… | 2022-08-17T23:44:02Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Hollywood Brown: I just felt like sometimes the Ravens really didn't need me - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/hollywood-brown-i-just-felt-like-sometimes-the-ravens-really-didnt-need-me/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/hollywood-brown-i-just-felt-like-sometimes-the-ravens-really-didnt-need-me/ |
The good news? They may be. The bad news? It would be only a minority share.
According to Bloomberg.com, the Glazers “would consider selling a minority stake.” The report comes as pressure continues to mount on the Glazers to sell the team.
“Preliminary discussions” regarding the possibility of selling a slice of the team have occurred. The transaction would be based on a valuation of the team at $6 billion.
The Glazers, who bought the team in 2005, own roughly 97 percent of it.
Fans are currently up in arms because the club has lost its first two games of the 2022-23 season. Protests are planned for the next home game, on August 22.
In May 2021, a major protest resulted in the delay of a match, with fans storming the team’s home stadium. | 2022-08-18T00:02:20Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | With fans once again up in arms, the Glazers reportedly are willing to sell a minority stake in Manchester United - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/with-fans-once-again-up-in-arms-the-glazers-reportedly-are-willing-to-sell-a-minority-stake-in-manchester-united/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/with-fans-once-again-up-in-arms-the-glazers-reportedly-are-willing-to-sell-a-minority-stake-in-manchester-united/ |
The competition continues between Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, with no timeline for a decision. Panthers coach Matt Rhule said the team will let things play out at least through the second preseason game.
“When we know, we know,” Rhule said, via Darin Gantt of the team website. “It could be two weeks; it could be now. I know that’s not the answer you guys want. We’re just making sure we’re thorough.”
Mayfield is getting more comfortable with each passing day, and it’s going to come as a surprise if he doesn’t win the job. But the former No. 1 overall selection isn’t concerning himself with the team’s decision.
“To be honest with you, I haven’t been worried about when the decision is going to be made or any of that, timeline-wise,” Mayfield said. “I’ve just tried to put my head down and handle it one day at a time, and that’s been the mindset for both Sam and I.
As Gantt put it, the Panthers’ quarterback “battle” has been one of the most civil competitions in football history. Mayfield has supported Darnold, and Darnold has supported Mayfield.
Mayfield got off to a late start, not arriving in a trade from Cleveland until July 6, but he has made up ground since.
“I’m at the point now where it feels really, really comfortable for me,” Mayfield said. “Yeah, I’m in a great spot. Obviously, there are always little things you’re trying to improve. It’s never complacent; I haven’t figured it out.” | 2022-08-18T02:55:30Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Baker Mayfield not worried about starting quarterback decision - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/baker-mayfield-not-worried-about-starting-quarterback-decision/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/17/baker-mayfield-not-worried-about-starting-quarterback-decision/ |
Chargers safety Derwin James is returning to practice after signing the new contract he had been seeking, and he says he always knew he and the Chargers would come to terms.
“There was never a doubt in my mind,” James said.
Although James chose not to practice until the Chargers showed him the money, he said he struggled seeing his teammates on the field while he was standing on the sidelines.
James is going to ramp up for a few days before he gets to full speed and participates in a full practice, but he’ll be ready to go in plenty of time for Week One. | 2022-08-18T09:31:18Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Derwin James: There was never a doubt in my mind I'd reach a deal with the Chargers - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/derwin-james-there-was-never-a-doubt-in-my-mind-id-reach-a-deal-with-the-chargers/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/derwin-james-there-was-never-a-doubt-in-my-mind-id-reach-a-deal-with-the-chargers/ |
The quarterback competition that never really felt like a competition won’t be a competition for much longer.
As expected, Baker Mayfield is expected to be named the starter in Carolina. TheAthletic.com reports that it’s inevitable. However, no timeline has been applied to the making of the announcement.
The Panthers traded for Mayfield after the conclusion of the offseason program. The mere fact that the deal was made created the impression that the Panthers wanted Mayfield to play over Sam Darnold. But when former Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme, who currently works for the team as a broadcaster, declared that Darnold has the upper hand in the competition, some started to wonder whether the Panthers simply added Mayfield as a buy-low proposition, getting him for a fifth-round pick and paying only $5 million of his salary. (The Browns are paying $10.5 million.)
Then, once camp opened, the coaching staff divided first-team reps, giving Darnold a seemingly fair shot to win the job while also giving Mayfield fewer chances to get comfortable in a new team with a new offense. Despite not getting the full bulk of the reps, Mayfield has persuaded the coaching staff — and, presumably, the locker room — that he’s the better option, at least when the Browns come to town for Week One.
Even if Mayfield starts every game, Darnold actually will make more money this year. He has a fifth-year option salary of $18.8 million, along with the 17th-game sweetener of $1.1 million. Mayfield, who originally had the same fifth-year salary, agreed to take a pay cut in excess of $3 million. While he can earn it back through incentives, he needs to have a very special year (more than $1 million is tied to getting to the Super Bowl and winning it), the 17th game check is gone for good.
Of course, Mayfield isn’t thinking about about not making nearly $20 million in 2022. He’s thinking about making a lot more in 2023 and beyond. To get there, he needs to play. And he apparently will, at least when the season begins.
After that, it’s up to him. He’ll need to be effective. He’ll also need to stay healthy. His this-is-my-job attitude in Cleveland allowed him to play with a bad non-throwing shoulder when he clearly shouldn’t have been on the field. In Carolina, he’ll likely receive no such deference, especially with the coaching staff thinking a lot more about 2023 and beyond, too. | 2022-08-18T11:46:43Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Baker Mayfield, as expected, is expected to be named the Week One starter in Carolina - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/baker-mayfield-as-expected-is-expected-to-be-named-the-week-one-starter-in-carolina/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/baker-mayfield-as-expected-is-expected-to-be-named-the-week-one-starter-in-carolina/ |
Harrison Butker wants a shot at a 70-yard field goal
The longest field goal that Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has ever hit was 58 yards, but he thinks there’s a lot more power in his leg.
Butker hit a 66-yard field goal during warmups at Soldier Field before last week’s preseason game and hitting one in a regular season game would tie Justin Tucker‘s record for the longest field goal in NFL history. Butker has set his sights on an even longer kick, however.
Butker said he “changed some technique stuff so I’m even more efficient” on field goal attempts and he thinks his kicks are traveling further than they have at any point in the past. That’s why he’d like a chance to kick a 70-yarder at some point this season.
“Yeah, definitely,” Butker said, via Jesse Newell of the Kansas City Star. “I mean, the conditions have to be right. It’s got to be warm, probably some wind at your back. . . . But I feel like I have the distance for it, definitely.”
The Chiefs will be looking to score touchdowns this season, but the right circumstances could arise for Butker to put his belief in his leg power to the test before the year is out. | 2022-08-18T12:54:36Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Harrison Butker wants a shot at a 70-yard field goal - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/harrison-butker-wants-a-shot-at-a-70-yard-field-goal/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/harrison-butker-wants-a-shot-at-a-70-yard-field-goal/ |
As second-year quarterback Trey Lance prepares for his first year as a starter, he’s making progress, according to his head coach.
“Trey’s done a good job,” coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Wednesday, following joint practices with the Vikings. “I thought he had a good day today and we’re in the middle of camp, so you have some good, some bad, but he’s getting better throughout the whole process.”
Shanahan was asked to explain how Lance has improved since his rookie year.
That’s what the 49ers need. They’ve gone all in with Lance, and all out with Jimmy Garoppolo. Durability will be a key for Lance. Effectiveness will be another. In 24 days, we’ll find out when the 49ers face the Bears in Chicago.
3 responses to “Kyle Shanahan on Trey Lance: He’s gotten a little better at everything”
Why isn’t Jimmy G raising holy hell to get out of there and land a job? They are going to release him when the season starts to avoid his pay then what is he going to do?
Looking forward to seeing Trey’s progression. He showed improvement in the first preseason game and has the mental makeup to succeed in this league. His physical talent is off the charts. He is in the best system with the best coach to help him succeed. | 2022-08-18T14:52:22Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Kyle Shanahan on Trey Lance: He's gotten a little better at everything - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/kyle-shanahan-on-trey-lance-hes-gotten-a-little-better-at-everything/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/kyle-shanahan-on-trey-lance-hes-gotten-a-little-better-at-everything/ |
The Big Ten has swapped a four-letter network for a trio of three-letter channels. ESPN is out, and Fox, CBS, and NBC (PFT corporate overlord disclaimer) are in.
The deals were announced on Thursday. In a simulation of an NFL Sunday, Big Ten football will be televised on Fox at 12:00 p.m. ET, CBS at 3:30 p.m. ET, and NBC in the evening. The arrangement begins in 2023 and runs through the 2029 season.
The Big Ten and its teams will pocket, on average, $1 billion per year. The players will continue to receive zero dollars a year plus benefits, babe.
Sure, the players can now make money through the name, image, and likeness model that was forced on the NCAA and its member schools under the threat/promise of viable antitrust litigation. But the schools continue to hoard the ticket and TV revenue, with the players getting (at wholesale cost) an “education.” And they have no choice but to play college football for three years, since by rule they can’t enter the NFL draft. (As explained in Playmakers, the NFL and the NFL Players Association are complicit in the ability of pro football’s free farm system to get free labor.)
So while it’s a day to celebrate the fact that the Big Ten has finagled full and fair value for the content it will provide to Fox, CBS, and NBC from 2023 through the end of the decade, it’s also appropriate (if not required) to point out that the rising tide is lifting all boats — with the exception of those boats that people are actually tuning in to watch race.
2 responses to “Big Ten creates a three-window Saturday on Fox, CBS, NBC”
Couldn’t they play in the CFL, USFL or XFL for 3 years while getting paid then enter the NFL? Seems like they would probably still make more with NIL in the NCAA while getting a free education valued at 100’s of thousands though.
hawk986 says:
If the players are good enough, they’ll earn plenty of dollars in the pros. | 2022-08-18T15:55:36Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Big Ten creates a three-window Saturday on Fox, CBS, NBC - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/big-ten-creates-a-three-window-saturday-on-fox-cbs-nbc/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/big-ten-creates-a-three-window-saturday-on-fox-cbs-nbc/ |
In the 2022 iteration of Kansas City’s offense, one young player who is trying to make an immediate impact is receiver Skyy Moore.
The second-round pick caught 95 passes for 1,292 yards with 10 touchdowns in his final season at Western Michigan. And now he’s vying to become one of quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ primary targets.
On Wednesday, offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy had plenty of positive things to say about the young receiver.
“He’s an outstanding person [and] he’s an outstanding player — and he’s just a kid that always wants to know what he can improve upon,” Bieniemy said, via Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com. “First of all, I love watching him work because he’s going to work his tail off, and he accepts coaching. The thing that I love as well is that if he makes a mistake, he’s not a kid that’s going to repeat that same mistake; that’s the thing that’s impressive about him.
Moore caught all three of his targets for 23 yards in Kansas City’s preseason opener against Chicago last week. And he served as a kick and punt returner, adding to his versatility. | 2022-08-18T15:55:42Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Eric Bieniemy: Skyy Moore works his tail off and he accepts coaching - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/eric-bieniemy-skyy-moore-works-his-tail-off-and-he-accepts-coaching/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/eric-bieniemy-skyy-moore-works-his-tail-off-and-he-accepts-coaching/ |
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones missed the final six games of last season with a neck injury. But that’s not the only issue with his neck he has dealt with recently.
Jones told reporters today that he also had a neck procedure in the winter. But he said it was unrelated to the neck injury he suffered on the football field.
Although Jones says he’s good to go for this season, it has to be alarming that Jones has had two separate neck issues that required medical attention in the last year.
This is a very big season for Jones, who is heading into the fourth and final year of his rookie contract after the Giants declined to pick up his fifth-year option. As he heads into free agency in March, he needs to stay healthy and have a productive season.
3 responses to “Daniel Jones says he had a neck procedure unrelated to his 2021 injury”
Holy smokes, this guy is not the answer. Get Jimmy G in here and let’s have Danny start his career as a backup QB already.
ROSMITH51 says:
Anyone who spends as much time looking over their shoulder to see if they’re about to be benched as he does is going to have neck issues.
He will probably need more surgeries like Peyton Manning did. Neck injuries and football just don’t go together. | 2022-08-18T17:32:00Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Daniel Jones says he had a neck procedure unrelated to his 2021 injury - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/daniel-jones-says-he-had-a-neck-procedure-unrelated-to-his-2021-injury/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/daniel-jones-says-he-had-a-neck-procedure-unrelated-to-his-2021-injury/ |
Deshaun Watson‘s 11-game suspension does not go into effect until the Browns cut their roster to 53 players, so he is free to practice for the rest of this month and play in the team’s final two preseason games if the Browns choose to put him on the field.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski gave an answer to that question during a press conference on Thursday. Stefanski said that Jacoby Brissett will start against the Eagles on Sunday and that Watson will not play at all in either of the final two games.
Stefanski said that the team is comfortable with their plan for the remainder of the preseason and that they have “a ton of trust” in Brissett’s ability to handle the job. Any move for another starting option would call that into question, but he’s the clear choice in Cleveland at the moment.
Watson will be eligible to return to the team for their Week 13 game against the Texans on December 4 and would be allowed back at practice after they face the Buccaneers the previous Sunday.
3 responses to “Deshaun Watson won’t play again in preseason”
Guess the Browns want to shelter him from the boos and chants.
cause they know other players will be gunning for his knee caps
But Deshaun just killed it in the 1st preseason game… | 2022-08-18T18:38:52Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Deshaun Watson won't play again in preseason - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/deshaun-watson-wont-play-again-in-preseason/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/deshaun-watson-wont-play-again-in-preseason/ |
George Fant‘s plans to be the starting left tackle for the Jets this season were upset by an injury to one of his teammates.
Mekhi Becton‘s season-ending knee injury led the team to sign Fant’s former Seahawks teammate Duane Brown and the Jets moved Fant to Becton’s old spot in order to keep the five-time Pro Bowler at his familiar place on the line. At a Thursday press conference, Fant shared his mental approach to the change in circumstances.
“Another hurdle in the road, just something I gotta do. . . . I only control what I can control and that’s to be the best right tackle I can be,” Fant said. “Sometimes you gotta take things head on and go play.”
Fant said it’s “not easy” to flip from one side of the line to the other, but said his experience playing on the right side in the past and the team’s scheme should keep the transition from being too difficult. He also deflected questions about what the move might mean for his contract negotiations — Fant is in the last year of his deal — by noting that’s the reason he has an agent.
While left tackles generally cash in at a higher level, Fant showed last year that he can handle that side and a strong season in 2022 at his new spot would still likely put him in a good place to talk about a contract with the Jets or anyone else. | 2022-08-18T18:39:04Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | George Fant on move to right tackle: Another hurdle in the road - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/george-fant-on-move-to-right-tackle-another-hurdle-in-the-road/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/george-fant-on-move-to-right-tackle-another-hurdle-in-the-road/ |
The Chiefs are waiting to see if wide receiver Mecole Hardman and defensive tackle Chris Jones will be well enough to play in Saturday’s game against the Commanders, but they know the plan they have for the rest of the team’s starters for the second week of the preseason.
Head coach Andy Reid said that he is approaching the game as if quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the other first-stringers will play most of, if not all, the first half against Washington.
“We’ll go somewhere [around the] first half with the ones,” Reid said, via Charles Goldman of USAToday.com. “It might be shorter than that, but I’m just going to see how things go. Then the rest of the guys will fill in. Chad Henne won’t play this game, like last year. We sit him and give the two young guys [Shane Buechele and Dustin Crum] some extra time.”
Mahomes played 32 snaps in the second Chiefs preseason game last year, so Reid’s approach is a similar one to what the team has done in the past. He played 15 snaps in the final game last summer. | 2022-08-18T21:08:00Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Chiefs starters to play around a half on Saturday - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/chiefs-starters-to-play-around-a-half-on-saturday/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/chiefs-starters-to-play-around-a-half-on-saturday/ |
Colts head coach Frank Reich said last week that Indianapolis is hopeful and optimistic that linebacker Shaquille Leonard will be available to open the regular season.
But even if Leonard — who is recovering from undergoing back surgery in June — is able to play Week One, he might not be at full strength.
“I think when he gets cleared, he’s not going to be 100 percent and he’s going to have to work his way back into it,” Reich said on Thursday, via Stephen Holder of ESPN. “This has happened to everybody. All the great ones. I remember back in 2008, Peyton [Manning] had the knee [injury] and he played the first four games and he was a mere shell of [himself]. But we still found ways to win those games. He found ways to play winning football until he, around Week Five or Week Six, hit his stride.
“So, my guess is that whenever [Leonard] gets cleared, it’s going to be the same way. He’s going to have to figure out how to play feeling the way he feels — not feeling 100 percent, feeling like maybe this isn’t all the way back but I still gotta figure out how to play winning football.”
Reich has previously said Leonard is preparing like he’s going to be ready for Week One.
Leonard has been a first-team All-Pro in three of his first four seasons. He’s also been a Pro Bowler in each of the last three years.
In 16 games in 2021, Leonard recorded 122 tackles, four tackles for loss, three QB hits, four interceptions, and a league-leading eight forced fumbles. | 2022-08-18T21:08:00Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Frank Reich: Shaquille Leonard will have to work his way back into it once he's cleared - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/frank-reich-shaquille-leonard-will-have-to-work-his-way-back-into-it-once-hes-cleared/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/frank-reich-shaquille-leonard-will-have-to-work-his-way-back-into-it-once-hes-cleared/ |
The biggest story from Bengals training camp has been quarterback Joe Burrow‘s appendectomy.
But safety Jessie Bates, one of the team’s defensive leaders, has been absent for all of training camp. He hasn’t yet signed his franchise tender, so technically Bates is not under contract and isn’t subject to fines.
Bates attended the Bengals’ preseason opener last week, sitting in a suite. But there’s been no indication that he’s close to returning to the team.
When asked about Bates on Wednesday, Burrow said, “Jessie’s business is his business.”
“When he’s ready to come back, we’ll be excited to have him,” Burrow continued, via James rapier of SI.com. “Obviously,G a great player, great person, great friend. So when his business is over, we’ll welcome him back with open arms.”
Bates has been a key piece of Cincinnati’s defense since he entered the league as a second-round pick in 2018. Last season, he recorded 88 tackles for three tackles for loss, an interception, and four passes defensed in 15 games. He came up huge in the postseason, too, recording a pair of interceptions and six passes defensed in four games.
2 responses to “Joe Burrow: When Jessie Bates’ business is over, we’ll welcome him back with open arms”
Reno Hightower says:
Love Jesse and in my opinion he isnt a 20m a year player but thats the beauty of the market…he is free to get it if someone feels he is worth that. Either way we love him in Cincinnati and most fans realize this is his last year w the Bengals.
Hope he tears it up on the way out, and good luck to him where ever he lands. | 2022-08-18T21:08:00Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Joe Burrow: When Jessie Bates' business is over, we'll welcome him back with open arms - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/joe-burrow-when-jessie-bates-business-is-over-well-welcome-him-back-with-open-arms/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/joe-burrow-when-jessie-bates-business-is-over-well-welcome-him-back-with-open-arms/ |
Jets quarterback Zach Wilson was in Los Angeles on Tuesday to have surgery on his injured meniscus and he’s already made his way back to New Jersey.
Wilson was at the team’s facility on Thursday and head coach Robert Saleh said that Wilson was in “good spirits” after the surgery. Saleh added that Wilson is eager to start a rehab schedule that is expected to run for several weeks.
The team’s first regular season game is a little more than three weeks away and no one has said anything definitive about the team’s plans for their game against the Ravens. Saleh did say that no one is going to push for the process to move any faster than necessary for Wilson to fully recover.
“It’s really going to be dictated by how he feels, and when he’s ready to go,” Saleh said, via the team’s website. “We’re going to make sure we do right by him in terms of making sure he’s 100 percent healthy. Whenever that is, that’s when he’ll hit the field. If Zach is ready to go, he’s going to be the Week 1 starter.”
If Wilson isn’t ready, Joe Flacco will get the start against his former team. Saleh has expressed confidence that Flacco is still talented enough to be a starting quarterback in the past and he called it “comforting” to have the veteran on hand on Thursday.
3 responses to “Robert Saleh: If Zach Wilson’s ready, he’ll be Week 1 starter”
I don’t think he returns until Week 3. The Jets held him out an extra week last year so his first game back could be against the Texans defense instead of the Dolphins. They will probably do the same thing here: let Flacco start the first two games against the Ravens and Browns then bring Wilson back if he’s ready.
Jets to start 0-8, maybe 0-9 or worse.
The delusion is amazing. He won’t be able to tuck and run 50% of the time anymore on a twice injured PCL.
Zach Wilson, he of slight build, was injured last season and now this season.
I doubt he can play a full 17 games any season… | 2022-08-18T21:08:32Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Robert Saleh: If Zach Wilson's ready, he'll be Week 1 starter - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/robert-saleh-whenever-zach-wilsons-100-percent-hell-hit-the-field/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/robert-saleh-whenever-zach-wilsons-100-percent-hell-hit-the-field/ |
Giants running back Saquon Barkley expressed his distaste for criticism this offseason and he hasn’t grown any more comfortable with it this summer.
Barkley’s target this time around is people who take issue with his running style. Barkley has heard criticism that he moves from side to side too much and needs to devote more of his energy to moving forward, but he made it clear at a Thursday press conference that he doesn’t agree with that critique of his game.
“I’ve been playing this position for a very long time, and by no means am I the perfect running back, and I still got so much work to do,” Barkley said. “But I know that’s been the conversation or been a thought or been a thing out there that’s said about me it, ‘He don’t know what he’s doing. He’s just dancing back there.’ I’m really kind of fed up with people who never played a position and try to speak on how I run a position. We call them All-Pros with clickers in their hand. Running back is a tough position, but it’s easy to be there and watch football and watch on tv, or even watch on watch film and stop the clicker and say, ‘Oh, he should’ve made that cut.’ There’s a lot of things that go into making that cut. There’s a lot of things like your shoulders being square. There’s a lot of things that have an impact on your vision.”
Barkley’s best response to any and all critics will be a strong performance in the regular season. Injuries and underwhelming production have wrecked his last few campaigns and no verbal volleys will be enough to counteract the picture they have painted. | 2022-08-19T12:29:58Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Saquon Barkley "fed up" with critics of his running style - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/saquon-barkley-fed-up-with-critics-of-his-running-style/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/saquon-barkley-fed-up-with-critics-of-his-running-style/ |
Maxx Crosby has been the Raiders’ best edge rusher since the team selected him in the fourth round of the 2019 draft.
But he became a Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro for the first time last season, recording 8.0 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 30 QB hits, and seven passes defensed.
Though Las Vegas welcomed in a new regime this offseason, Crosby still received a four-year, $98.98 million extension to solidify his status with the team.
Now Crosby is trying to take the next step in his development and stack good years together. Head coach Josh McDaniels said on Thursday Crosby is well on his way to accomplishing that.
“He’s doing it because he does it every day,” McDaniels said in his press conference. “What happens when you get noticed or people see what you’ve done and accomplished in a year, or your short time in the league, and then what happens when you get recognized like that? Because now, it’s different. Because there are people that know he’s been very disruptive, very productive in his role. It takes more from that person to continue to ascend and continue to produce at that same level or beyond it, which I know is what Maxx wants to do.
In 2022, Crosby has the benefit of working with defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and opposite edge rusher Chandler Jones. If Crosby can put it all together, things are setting up for him to have his best season yet. | 2022-08-19T13:36:50Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Josh McDaniels: Maxx Crosby is doing everything you'd want from an ascending player - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/josh-mcdaniels-maxx-crosby-is-doing-everything-youd-want-from-an-ascending-player/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/josh-mcdaniels-maxx-crosby-is-doing-everything-youd-want-from-an-ascending-player/ |
2 responses to “Dan Campbell: Joint practices with Colts give our team confidence”
Queue up the haters
“I think you want to know you don’t look out of place and I didn’t feel that way,” Campbell said. “I didn’t feel that way. And I think ultimately that’s what you want to know is like, ‘Man, do — is this something where we feel like we’re outmatched?” | 2022-08-19T15:42:54Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Dan Campbell: Joint practices with Colts give our team confidence - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/dan-campbell-joint-practices-with-colts-give-our-team-confidence/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/dan-campbell-joint-practices-with-colts-give-our-team-confidence/ |
Former Washington head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion has reached a deal with federal prosecutors to resolve a criminal investigation into his activities while he worked for the team.
Vermillion was the subject of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency concerning the distribution of prescription drugs. The team put him on administrative leave last year and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post reports that he agreed to a deferral of prosecution agreement in a Virginia court on Friday morning.
Commanders head coach Ron Rivera issued a statement regarding Vermillion’s agreement and confirmed that his employment has been terminated.
“I was recently made aware that Ryan Vermillion has entered into an agreement, pursuant to which he has admitted to wrongdoing, but not be charged with any crime, so long as he satisfies certain conditions over the next 12 months,” Rivera said in the statement. “The situation is unfortunate and although it resulted in no criminal charges, it was necessary to move forward in a different direction. Ryan’s employment has been terminated. I want to emphasize that the U.S. Government confirmed from the outset that it viewed the organization as a witness, and not as a subject or target of the investigation. We cooperated fully with federal investigators, and we will continue to cooperate with any supplemental League and NFLPA inquiry.”
The Commanders hired Al Bellamy as their new head trainer in April.
2 responses to “Former Washington trainer Ryan Vermillion agrees to deferral of prosecution in DEA investigation”
What’s the difference from this guy handing out drugs and a dealer on the street doing the same thing? Has a street dealer ever given the chance to admit to their wrongdoing but not be charged with a crime?
I cannot think of a worse franchise in the entire history of sports. | 2022-08-19T15:42:58Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Former Washington trainer Ryan Vermillion agrees to deferral of prosecution in DEA investigation - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/former-washington-trainer-ryan-vermillion-agrees-to-deferral-of-prosecution-in-dea-investigation/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/former-washington-trainer-ryan-vermillion-agrees-to-deferral-of-prosecution-in-dea-investigation/ |
Thursday was one of those days when a lot of things happened in a short period of time. Lost in the shuffle is the apparent fact that the NFL posted the press release regarding the Deshaun Watson settlement prematurely.
Things got rolling when the Browns announced that their Thursday media availability would be delayed. Myles Simmons pasted that tweet into the PFT text chain, and we then mobilized the effort to figure out whether the development had anything to do with potential developments in the Deshaun Watson case.
“There will be news today,” a source with knowledge of the situation told PFT, at 11:27 a.m. ET.
That’s when, apparently, a guy names Joseph Pasteris logged into the NFL Communications website and struck gold. It was the ultimate right place/right time moment, with the press release announcing the 11-game suspension and $5 million fine posted for the world to see.
The only lingering question is whether the posting of the release was accidental, or accidentally on purpose. Someone had to push the button to publish the press release. While it’s not impossible that someone’s finger slipped, it’s hard to imagine folks not talking extra precautions with something this important.
Is it possible that a deal was done but Watson was having second thoughts? That someone authorized posting the release in order to ensure that Watson didn’t back out?
We don’t know, and we won’t know. But we do know that the press release apparently showed up before it was supposed to.
2 responses to “NFL apparently posted Deshaun Watson press release before settlement was final”
The NFL is a prime example with everything that is slimy about the world we live in. Yet I still watch. Shame on me. | 2022-08-19T15:43:07Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | NFL apparently posted Deshaun Watson press release before settlement was final - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/nfl-apparently-posted-deshaun-watson-press-release-before-settlement-was-final/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/nfl-apparently-posted-deshaun-watson-press-release-before-settlement-was-final/ |
Bill Bidwill will be the next person inducted into the Cardinals Ring of Honor.
The team announced that Bidwill will become the 19th member of the group during a halftime ceremony at their Week 1 game against the Chiefs.
One of the other 18 members is Bidwill’s father Charles, who bought the Chicago Cardinals in 1933. His mother took ownership upon Charles’ death in 1947 and moved the team to St. Louis in 1960. Bidwill became co-owner with his brother when she died in 1962 and became the sole owner in 1972.
Bidwill moved the team to Arizona in 1988 and maintained ownership of the team through his death in 2019. The Cardinals only made the playoffs eight times during his time as the team’s owner, although one of those trips resulted in the team’s lone Super Bowl appearance. They lost to the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII. | 2022-08-19T16:11:51Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Cardinals to induct Bill Bidwill into Ring of Honor - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/cardinals-to-induct-bill-bidwill-into-ring-of-honor/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/cardinals-to-induct-bill-bidwill-into-ring-of-honor/ |
Ever since Judge Sue L. Robinson handed down Deshaun Watson‘s initial suspension, the Browns’ plan has been for Jacoby Brissett to start at quarterback in Week One.
Now, Brissett’s slated to start Cleveland’s first 11 games now that Watson’s suspension has been increased.
The Browns are reportedly not pursuing Brissett’s former teammate in San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo at this time. That’s a de facto vote of confidence from the Browns for Brissett, who said on Friday that he still has something to prove every day.
“I’m just excited for the opportunity. I don’t take it lightly, obviously,” Brissett said, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “Just going out there, continuing to be the man that I am, the player that I am, the teammate that I am. And I think all of that stuff kind of takes care of itself and I don’t have to really speak on that.”
Brissett also noted that he’s not going to be looking over his shoulder in filling his role.
“I wouldn’t be a great teammate if I thought like that,” Brissett said, via 92.3 The Fan.
Brissett has significant starting experience, having played two seasons for the Colts in 2017 and 2019. He also started five games for Miami last year. He’s completed 60.2 percent of his career passes for 7,742 yards with 36 touchdowns and three interceptions. Last year, he completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 1,283 yards with five TDs and four picks.
But given the Browns’ aspirations with a strong defense and capable offensive skill players, it wouldn’t be a shock if they end up seriously discussing trading for Garoppolo. | 2022-08-19T16:11:58Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Jacoby Brissett: I'm excited for the opportunity and don't take it lightly - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/jacoby-brissett-im-excited-for-the-opportunity-and-dont-take-it-lightly/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/jacoby-brissett-im-excited-for-the-opportunity-and-dont-take-it-lightly/ |
Baker Mayfield is reportedly leading the competition to be the Panthers starting quarterback in Week 1 of the regular season and it doesn’t look like he’ll be doing anything to impact that battle on Friday night.
That’s also the case for Sam Darnold, who has been competing with Mayfield in training camp. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that P.J. Walker is expected to start at quarterback when the Panthers face the Patriots in their second preseason game of the summer.
The Panthers are set to go with Walker because they do not plan to play their other first-string players on Friday night. The team had two days of joint practices with the Patriots this week, so they had a lot of opportunities to see the first team in action against an opposing defense.
With Mayfield, Darnold and third-round pick Matt Corral on hand in Carolina, Walker could be the odd man out when it comes to the 53-man roster and a good showing against New England could help him find another spot in the league.
Panthers head coach Matt Rhule hasn’t said when he’ll make an official announcement about the starting job, but he did point to the practices with New England as a key milestone in the competition earlier this summer.
UPDATE 11:28 a.m. ET: The Panthers announced Walker will play the first and third quarters with Corral running the offense in the second and fourth quarters. | 2022-08-19T16:12:10Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | P.J. Walker is expected to start at QB for Panthers Friday night - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/report-p-j-walker-is-expected-to-start-at-qb-for-panthers-friday-night/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/report-p-j-walker-is-expected-to-start-at-qb-for-panthers-friday-night/ |
Eagles running back Miles Sanders missed another practice on Friday.
Sanders was first out of practice last weekend with what the team called leg soreness, but the listing on the injury report shifted to his hamstring on Tuesday. During his Friday press conference, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said Sanders was doing better, but that there is no timetable for him to get back on the field at this point.
“You know I’ll never get into how long or anything like that or how bad. I’m not a doctor, I’m not a trainer,” Sirianni said. “We’re just being precautious with him. He had some tightness and some soreness in it. Just being precautious with him and we’ll see how it goes.”
Sirianni went on to say that there’s no extra concern about Sanders because of the time he’s missed due to injuries in past seasons, but it’s surely something they’ll keep in mind as they consider any contract extension for the 2019 second-round pick. | 2022-08-19T19:23:28Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Miles Sanders remains out with soreness, tightness in hamstring - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/miles-sanders-remains-out-with-soreness-tightness-in-hamstring/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/miles-sanders-remains-out-with-soreness-tightness-in-hamstring/ |
3 responses to “Blaine Gabbert to start against the Titans, but Kyle Trask will take most of the reps”
With so many reporters covering the NFL, and with every person carrying a camera, it seems impossible that not a single person has uncovered what is going on with Brady. And yes, it is the public’s business. Brady’s entire life is based on his public persona. If he was the 53rd person on the roster then yes, his privacy should be respected, but he isn’t.
Gabbert is NOT the future but Trask could be… Trask needs all the rep experience he can get!
It’s not like they’re gonna risk Brady in a pre-season game with rookies on the O line. Anyhow, this is their last chance to find out if Trask can play, or do they need to hunt for another one next spring | 2022-08-19T21:19:44Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Blaine Gabbert to start against the Titans, but Kyle Trask will take most of the reps - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/blaine-gabbert-to-start-against-the-titans-but-kyle-trask-will-take-most-of-the-reps/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/blaine-gabbert-to-start-against-the-titans-but-kyle-trask-will-take-most-of-the-reps/ |
Sunday night’s nationally televised game between the Ravens and the Cardinals won’t feature Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray and other star players from the two teams, but it will likely feature some discussion of the Ravens’ preseason winning streak.
Baltimore comes into the game with 21 straight wins in preseason games, which is an NFL record and something that the Ravens have made it clear is something that matters to them. Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury is well aware of both the streak and the pride the Ravens take in it.
“That’s part of their culture,” Kingsbury said, via the team’s website. “They say we’re going to win these games and help it build into the regular season. I respect that approach. Obviously, their team believes. They have one of the most successful franchises in the league. We’ll get their best shot.”
Not every member of the club is as clued in to the streak. Left tackle D.J. Humphries called it “a new fact,” but quarterback Trace McSorley used to play for Baltimore and said this week that he knows his former club will give their best effort. McSorely will be starting Sunday and added that it would be “cool” to be part of the team that ends the run. | 2022-08-19T22:18:28Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Kliff Kingsbury on Ravens preseason win streak: Part of their culture, I respect that approach - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/kliff-kingsbury-on-ravens-preseason-win-streak-part-of-their-culture-i-respect-that-approach/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/19/kliff-kingsbury-on-ravens-preseason-win-streak-part-of-their-culture-i-respect-that-approach/ |
Texans quarterback Davis Mills recently shocked the world by claiming that the team will shock the world.
The explanation is far less shocking.
As coach Lovie Smith put it earlier in the week, Mills is simply projecting confidence that the team won’t be as bad as it’s been. And it’s been bad.
Mills was asked after playing a half against the Rams on Friday night to talk about his “shock the world” remark.
“I don’t think I need to elaborate too much on it,” Mills told reporters. “I don’t think the media nationally has given the Houston Texans a lot of attention. I think we know better than anyone else in the building. I mean, our guys have full confidence in what we’re capable of and we’re excited to get rolling with this season.”
The Texans definitely are overlooked. In a conference chock full of contenders, the Texans aren’t one of them. For good reason.
“I mean, previous records,” Mills said when asked why e thinks the team doesn’t get much attention. “We only won four football games last year, so obviously we want to come back and do a lot better than that this year.”
Getting a pair of preseason victories has helped build some confidence.
“Our goal every week when we’re playing against another team, we want to get the win at the end of the game,” Mills said. “And when we put all those things together, especially when Jeff [Driskel] is leading the team down last second drives both weeks, it’s exciting. We feel like we’re putting together full team games. Everyone’s excited that we’re doing that as a full team and we’re getting the wins.”
Winning in August won’t get the Texans any more national attention. They need to win when it counts. If they do, people will notice.
1 responses to “Davis Mills: “Shocking the world” is about having “full confidence””
dean7979 says:
If anyone interpreted his statement as winning the super bowl making the playoffs, that’s more of a comprehension issue on their part. Winning 8 or 9 games would be pretty shocking to most people, but is still possible if they have a little improvement in all areas. Especially if Mills takes a solid step forward in his development. | 2022-08-20T16:02:01Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Davis Mills: "Shocking the world" is about having "full confidence" - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/20/davis-mills-shocking-the-world-is-about-having-full-confidence/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/20/davis-mills-shocking-the-world-is-about-having-full-confidence/ |
4 responses to “Patriots rookie receiver Tyquan Thornton suffers collarbone injury”
Sorry the kid got hurt. He would have been awesome!
That’s just great. The one guy they’ve been talking up so much in camp is already hurt. I’m keeping my expectations low for the Pats,and not just because of this. I mean overall. We had a great 20 years,and now we’re back to reality.
Biblio Eater says:
Malcolm Mitchell caught 6 passes for 65 yards in the last 20 minutes of a Super Bowl, so no matter his career-ending injuries after that, he had a great start to his rookie year and would’ve been a fixture on the Patriots, a David Givens type.
This is the time when certain Pats’ fans yell, BUST! As if injury and talent have anything to do with each other. I hope the young man heals quickly, Mac will need all the help he can get. | 2022-08-20T17:42:26Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Patriots rookie receiver Tyquan Thornton suffers collarbone injury - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/20/patriots-rookie-receiver-tyquan-thornton-suffers-collarbone-injury/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/20/patriots-rookie-receiver-tyquan-thornton-suffers-collarbone-injury/ |
The Panthers activated linebacker Shaq Thompson from the active/physically unable to perform list Saturday.
Thompson underwent a surgical procedure to clean up his knee this offseason and needed some time to work his way back. He is expected to be full go for the Sept. 11 opener against the Browns.
Thompson, 28, was the Panthers’ first-round selection in 2015. He had one of his best seasons in 2021 despite missing three games.
Thompson’s 104 tackles were second on the team, and he added two sacks and two interceptions. | 2022-08-21T00:25:00Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Panthers activate Shaq Thompson from PUP - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/20/panthers-activate-shaq-thompson-from-pup/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/20/panthers-activate-shaq-thompson-from-pup/ |
Antonio Gibson was the Commanders’ starting running back last season, topped 1,000 rushing yards, and appeared to have a lock on the starting job for this season as well. And then Brian Robinson came along.
Robinson, a third-round rookie, has appeared to outplay Gibson on the practice field during training camp, and the Commanders made Robinson their starting running back in Saturday’s preseason game.
Perhaps even more significantly, the Commanders had Gibson back to return the opening kickoff. Gibson never played on special teams in either of his first two NFL seasons, but the Commanders putting him on special teams on Saturday is a strong suggestion that he’s going to need to contribute to the team in other ways because he’s not going to be the No. 1 running back anymore.
Robinson had eight carries for 31 yards on Saturday, while Gibson had just two carries for three yards, although he did add three catches for 37 yards. Based on preseason usage, Robinson may be the primary ball carrier, while Gibson is asked to play third downs and possibly return kicks.
Gibson fumbled in the preseason opener, drawing coach Ron Rivera’s ire, and Rivera also said he wants to see Gibson “run harder.” It now looks like Rivera has decided that Robinson is the man he wants carrying the load in his offense. | 2022-08-21T09:51:55Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Brian Robinson starts over Antonio Gibson in Commanders' running back competition - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/21/brian-robinson-starts-over-antonio-gibson-in-commanders-running-back-competition/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/21/brian-robinson-starts-over-antonio-gibson-in-commanders-running-back-competition/ |
In the Titans’ first preseason game, coach Mike Vrabel benched rookie quarterback Malik Willis for taking off and running when Vrabel wanted him to stay in the pocket and pass. Willis says he learned his lesson.
In the Titans’ second preseason game on Saturday night, Willis’s passing numbers weren’t great: 7-for-17 for 80 yards, with one touchdown, no interceptions and three sacks. And he did take off and run five times, gaining 42 yards on the ground. But he said afterward that he felt good about his pocket presence.
“I felt a little bit more comfortable,” Willis said. “But it’s not about feeling comfortable. It’s about making it a big point to stay in the pocket when I can. And not just because I’m athletic or I can get out when I want to, just to get out sometimes. And it is understanding when not to. And that’s the biggest thing. That’s why I’m a little disappointed in myself for, I think I got out a little bit too much. But it’s a growing process. It’s my second preseason game. I’m not going to be too hard on myself in that regard. So, I’m just excited and blessed that I get opportunity next week.”
Willis’s accuracy hasn’t been great, but he said after the game that Vrabel is telling him not to worry about it and just to keep throwing the ball.
“He was just like, ‘Don’t worry about being perfect,’ because that’s what I was doing,” Willis said of his conversation with Vrabel. “‘Don’t worry about being perfect, just go out there and let it rip and have fun. You’ve been blessed with a lot of ability, so just go have fun and continue to learn.'”
That’s what Willis is doing. It will be a slow process, and he will probably spend his entire rookie season on the sideline watching Ryan Tannehill, but Willis has undeniable talent, and the Titans want to see him keep developing as a pocket passer. | 2022-08-21T12:06:39Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Malik Willis focuses on staying in the pocket in second preseason game - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/21/malik-willis-focuses-on-staying-in-the-pocket-in-second-preseason-game/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/21/malik-willis-focuses-on-staying-in-the-pocket-in-second-preseason-game/ |
The Jaguars played quarterback Trevor Lawrence for the entire first half of Saturday’s game against the Steelers and all four of the full drives he led ended in Pittsburgh territory.
Those drives only resulted in six points, however. Ryan Santoso missed one of his three field goal tries and a fourth down completion to tight end Evan Engram was short of a first down to end another possession.
Lawrence also three incompletions on third downs before all three field goal attempts on his way to finishing the night 14-of-21 for 133 yards. After the game was over, head coach Doug Pederson said he thinks keeping a more even keel would benefit him in the early part of games.
“In Trevor’s case, we’ve just got to get him to calm down early in the football game and settle in. There were some throws that were missed that I know he would want back, and we’ve seen him make those throws in practice, so we know he’s capable of doing it,” Pederson said, via Demetrius Harvey of the Florida Times-Union. “It’s just a matter of just kind of taking a deep breath as he starts the game and settle in. But those are all things that we continue to work on. We’ve got a couple weeks left here in camp, and we’ll try to get better.”
The Urban Meyer fiasco was one of the reasons why Lawrence’s rookie year fell short of expectations and Pederson’s arrival is one of the reasons to think this year will be a more productive one for the top pick of the 2021 draft. Saturday’s outing was a reminder that the process won’t be an overnight one.
3 responses to “Doug Pederson: Trevor Lawrence has to calm down, settle in early in games”
I am surprised he struggling so much with the pro game unlike Burrow and Herbert .
He has happy feet. Something I noticed about him coming out.
Jacksonville might be the worst environment I’ve ever seen for any young QB. Those are just facts. Not excuses. Trevor Lawrence won’t need any excuses. Just like Josh Allen doesn’t. When a young QB falls short of expectations, it’s usually the expectations that were wrong, not the QB. Go back and read what the “experts” were saying about Josh Allen a year ago. Now all these same experts are picking Buffalo to win the super bowl. Jacksonville fans are in for a treat. It’s a QB league, and they have one of the best. Troy Aikman has 3 rings. Go back and watch tape of his first year when he went 0-11. Watch Peyton Manning’s first year. Every time you make a coaching change, the entire team is like a rookie. Pederson isn’t using Urban Meyer’s playbook. | 2022-08-21T15:16:54Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Doug Pederson: Trevor Lawrence has to calm down, settle in early in games - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/21/doug-pederson-trevor-lawrence-has-to-calm-down-settle-in-early-in-games/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/21/doug-pederson-trevor-lawrence-has-to-calm-down-settle-in-early-in-games/ |
Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is available to be signed by any team at any time. He has yet to generate serious interest, although he has been linked to multiple teams.
Tashan Reed of TheAthletic.com recently reported that the Raiders remain interested in Suh. However, Reed adds that Suh is looking for a contract with an annual average of $9 million per year.
At this point, the best play could be to wait until an inevitable injury to a starting defensive tackle for a contending team.
1 responses to “Raiders remain interested in Ndamukong Suh, but his price may be too high”
Washed up and overpaid. Stay clear of Suh. | 2022-08-21T15:17:06Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Raiders remain interested in Ndamukong Suh, but his price may be too high - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/21/raiders-remain-interested-in-ndamukong-suh-but-his-price-may-be-too-high/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/21/raiders-remain-interested-in-ndamukong-suh-but-his-price-may-be-too-high/ |
3 responses to “Todd Bowles doesn’t rule out Tom Brady playing in preseason finale”
If Brady does return for that Bucs-Colts preseason game, it may be Matt Ryan’s best chance ever to get a win against him.
purplepridepolysemy says:
No question who is in charge here. Tom will return when Tom wants to return, not before.
I don’t know exactly how many hundreds of football players are going to be playing in the NFL this season, but if I had to make a list of the guys I wouldn’t be worrying about, Tom Brady would be number one on that list. | 2022-08-21T18:11:11Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Todd Bowles doesn't rule out Tom Brady playing in preseason finale - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/21/todd-bowles-doesnt-rule-out-tom-brady-playing-in-preseason-finale/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/21/todd-bowles-doesnt-rule-out-tom-brady-playing-in-preseason-finale/ |
Titans first-round pick Treylon Burks has received substantial playing time in each of Tennessee’s first two preseason games.
But the receiver has only made one 4-yard catch in the two games. His only other touch was a 4-yard carry.
Still, head coach Mike Vrabel said in his Sunday press conference that he’s been encouraged by some of the things Burks has done even when he’s not getting many targets — though Burks still has work to do.
“The thing that I’ve always tried to say with regard to receivers is they can’t control when they get the ball,” Vrabel said “All they can control is they get open and we can review the film and say, hey, this is where we would like the ball to go. I don’t want to tell quarterbacks, ‘Hey, throw it to this guy.’ That’s not the direction that we really want to head.
Vrabel noted that even though there are ways to manufacture touches, they’re not going to do that in the second preseason game. Either way, Vrabel noticed progress out of the 18th overall pick.
“Yeah, I think there were certainly improvements on things we had talked about,” Vrabel said. “And then there are going to be adjustments or coaching points that we’ll make with him and everybody else when they come in tomorrow.” | 2022-08-21T19:55:52Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Mike Vrabel: Really encouraged by some of the things Treylon Burks did - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/21/mike-vrabel-really-encouraged-by-some-of-the-things-treylon-burks-did/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/21/mike-vrabel-really-encouraged-by-some-of-the-things-treylon-burks-did/ |
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III had a hernia procedure. Unless he didn’t. Whatever the specific nature of the situation, he’s still recovering — and there’s no timetable for when he’ll be back.
Coach Pete Carroll has ping-ponged on the question of whether the rookie tailback had surgery to fix a hernia. On Sunday, Carroll told reporters that Walker remains is still recovering from the operation, whatever it want.
“He’s still pretty tender” Carroll said. “I was with him today. He’s got some things to heal, to go in and do what they did. So, it’s just a matter of time, but we don’t have a designated sequence yet. We’ll have to see how he responds.”
At least one report characterized the procedure as hernia surgery. However, nothing in the video of Carroll’s remarks mentions that it was a hernia. However, when he mentions that he’s “got some things to heal,” he motions toward his abdomen with both hands.
This could be the most significant aspect of Carroll’s comments. He previously said that he expected Walker to be back for Week One. Today’s comments suggest otherwise.
So that’s where things currently stand. In the next 22 days until the Seahawks host the Bronco, that could change again.
2 responses to “Peter Carroll: No timetable for Kenneth Walker III’s return”
It’s amazing what we think we have a right to know.
… and that’s why you don’t draft a RB before the 4th round. He’ll be lucky if he plays in half the season. | 2022-08-22T00:58:33Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Peter Carroll: No timetable for Kenneth Walker III's return - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/21/peter-carroll-no-timetable-for-kenneth-walker-iiis-return/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/21/peter-carroll-no-timetable-for-kenneth-walker-iiis-return/ |
It’s debatable whether the touchdown catch or the celebration was more impressive by Devon Allen. The Olympic hurdler blew through the Browns’ zone coverage on a post route and ended up laid out in the end zone holding onto Reid Sinnett‘s pass for a 55-yard touchdown.
Allen then celebrated with an air hurdle through the end zone.
“That was awesome,” Eagles coach Nick Sirriani said, via Josh Tolentino of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “What a great ball from Reid, a great catch and route from Devon, but the protection was sweet. That was a long-developing play; we handled it really nice. I think we were all high-fiving down the sideline.”
Allen, who has won the U.S. national championship in the 110-meter hurdles three times in his career, hasn’t played football since 2016. But he caught 41 passes for 684 yards and seven touchdowns at Oregon in 2014.
“Reid made a great throw,” Allen said, via Edward Sutelan of the Sporting News. “I think it’s probably a 55-, 60-yard pass. Reid has a strong arm, so I’m glad I got there. Made it easy on me. I could just catch it in the end zone and lay on the ground. But yeah, no, it was cool. It was cool that the coaches gave me that opportunity.”
Allen played eight offensive snaps and seven on special teams in the first preseason game, but he was not targeted. He was targeted twice Sunday and cashed in once.
Tight end Tyree Jackson planned Allen’s touchdown celebration before the game.
“It was funny I was just like, ‘Man, I don’t know. What should I do if I score?’” Allen recounted. “He was like, ‘You should do a hurdle.’ I was like, ‘Got you.'” | 2022-08-22T01:35:33Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Devon Allen celebrates touchdown with air hurdle - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/21/devon-allen-celebrates-touchdown-with-air-hurdle/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/21/devon-allen-celebrates-touchdown-with-air-hurdle/ |
FMIA: A Divided Cleveland Reckons With Deshaun Watson Reality and Why Rams Trust in Raheem Morris
CLEVELAND—On the 300 level of First Energy Stadium, in the concourse a half-hour before kickoff of the Browns’ preseason game, I observed the scene.
Guy passed me in the concourse with a NEXT YEAR DAMMIT Browns T-shirt.
I stopped a 30-ish fan in Browns garb, Quinton from Lorraine, Ohio, and asked if he supported the team acquiring Watson. “I thought it was a good deal,” Quinton said. “It’s tricky. On the one hand, he never got found guilty of anything in a court of law, so what do we really know? But I’m conflicted because I feel for the women if something really did happen.”
“City seems divided,” I said.
“It really is,” Quinton said. “Lots of people have strong feelings on both sides.”
“What’ll it be like when Watson plays for the Browns in December?” I asked.
“What do they say? Time heals all wounds? If he wins, it’ll be forgotten.”
South of the city, an architect and former mega-Browns fan, Kyle Marvin, was not as forgiving as Quinton from Lorraine. Marvin hates the Watson trade and signing. He ignored the Browns-Eagles game on local TV Sunday. He’s been a religious Browns’ watcher and tailgater, the kind who gets to the tailgate lot at 6 a.m. on gamedays and delights (before Steeler games) in catcalling anyone wearing a Pittsburgh jersey.
“I have loved this team,” Marvin said from his home, “but I will not be a Browns fan this year. It’s going to be hard for me to be a Browns fan again. I’ll watch the NFL on TV, but not the Browns.”
I asked what his biggest issue with Watson and the Browns was.
“The lack of contrition by Watson,” Marvin said. “He continues to lie about what happened. Nobody’s being honest. If he’d just come out and say ‘I’m sorry,’ it’s a different story. And the Browns just keep supporting him.”
The Lead: CLE reacts
Rams Camp
The Rams will look to defend their Super Bowl title next season. (NBC Sports)
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.—This encapsulates why the Rams are so high on defensive coordinator Raheem Morris—and the rest of the league should be too—as they begin their quest to try to be the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls in 18 years:
The Rams led Cincinnati 13-10 at halftime of the Super Bowl last February. But they hadn’t really impacted Joe Burrow, who’d completed two-thirds of his throws and been sacked just once in the first 30 minutes. The Bengals were—surprise!—sliding protection to thwart Aaron Donald, and the Rams couldn’t take advantage of the rest of the defense.
“Coach Rah,” is what the players call Morris, and when he stood in front of the defense at halftime, he announced a decisive change. It involved an unlikely piece of the Rams’ D: a lightish rookie linebacker with a maniacal streak named Ernest Jones. Six months later, Jones, 22, talked like he couldn’t quite believe what Morris said at halftime during the biggest game of his life.
“Rah told us, ‘We’re gonna change things up here. We’re gonna start sending [blitzing] Ernest in the second half. It’ll be Ernest one-on-one against their back. We think we’ll be able to get more pressure that way.”
In the second half, Jones blitzed seven times. He sacked Burrow late in the third quarter to foil one drive, then had a three-yard tackle for loss on running back Joe Mixon in the fourth quarter that stunted another drive. In all, Jones had four pressures on Burrow. Morris’ coaching wrinkle led to six second-half sacks by the Rams, and intense pressure on the final drive in the Rams’ 23-20 win.
“No way I was expecting Rah to send me like that,” Jones told me in camp. “I’m sure the Bengals weren’t expecting us to send the rookie linebacker either. Maybe that’s why Rah’s so good.”
Morris deflected credit for the decisive wrinkle. “The beauty of football, and the beauty of being a coordinator, is that it’s never just one person,” he said. “In this case, it was the clear, concise information given to the players by coaches, their position coaches in particular. It’s about incorporating everybody, the players and coaches alike.”
True. But someone’s got to make the decision to feature a third-round rookie on a defense full of megastars in the biggest game of their lives. Morris’ gambit helped win it.
I came to take the temperature of the Rams on a hot, arid dog day of August. Turns out it was a great day to come. This was a feisty, competitive practice with good news about the quarterback with a supposedly balky elbow. What I saw and heard:
Matthew Stafford, given some time off to deal with the barking throwing elbow, threw at least 70 balls at all distances against the defense. Looked good. “I practiced every practice last year, and it wasn’t a big issue,” he said. “We’re just trying to be smart. I’m fine.” Sean McVay told me: “Looked like Matthew Stafford to me. No restrictions, throwing it all over the yard, all different kinds of launch points.”
Aaron Donald practices hard. There was a scrum, pushing and shoving, in the middle of practice, and Donald grabbed the facemask of right tackle Rob Havenstein, ripped it off and threw it 10 yards downfield in anger. The Rams love Donald in large part because he takes football so seriously on every snap, whether it’s in the summer in training camp or in the winter in the playoffs. Sean McVay got in the middle of it and helped break it up, and then was thrilled with the offense later. “Good job standing up to those guys!” he yelled. McVay doesn’t want his offense to be intimidated by the best defensive player in the game. Donald smiled when I asked him about it. “It’s football,” he said. “All love.” (Recently retired Andrew Whitworth told me the scrums with Donald and the offense are common, and all would be forgotten by the time players are in the locker room. For their sake, I hope so. That was a good rumble.)
Donald told me he plans to play at least through the end of the 2023 season. “I got a two-year commitment right now, so I’m going to do everything I can while I’m here to help the organization win and be successful. I’m gonna last as long as I can, as long as I can play at a high level,” Donald said.
Regarding the future of McVay, who considered TV before signing a contract extension: Whitworth told me he wouldn’t be surprised if McVay coached two more years and he wouldn’t be surprised if he coached 32 more. “That’s somebody who’s one of my closest friends and knows me very well,” McVay told me. He called what Whitworth said “a fair statement. [I’m] just living in the moment and I know I’m loving coach right now.” I doubt McVay would leave as long as he has a powerful offense with a quarterback he trusts. Matthew Stafford is that, and at 35, he’d like to play a while longer.
Raheem Morris, part II:
He stepped into an odd but overall healthy situation last year, taking over the league’s top-rated defense after Brandon Staley left to coach the Chargers. Morris was asked not to change the successful Vic Fangio/Staley scheme but only to tweak it, so that was an adjustment for him. Jalen Ramsey told me: “We wanted to make sure that the next person to come in kept at least that same kind of defensive personality, where we kind of build around the stars and we elevate the quote-unquote role players to play extremely well. I remember having conversations with Sean—he wanted to keep that the same as well.”
“When you get a new coach, it comes down to trust,” Donald said. “He let players he trusts give feedback, and he learned his players. It was real good as the season went on.” By late in the season, after some porous defensive days against Tennessee, Arizona and Green Bay, Morris had a good play-calling feel. After Dec. 1, the Rams’ D allowed 18.4 points a game, including the 4-0 run through the playoffs.
Morris got just one head-coaching interview, in Minnesota. The previous year, five teams wanted Staley for interviews, and the Chargers hired him the day after they lost in Green Bay in the playoffs. Some of that is timing in the NFL hiring cycle. Staley got hired on Jan. 17; Morris wouldn’t have been available till Feb. 14. That’s one of the idiotic things the NFL does: Often times, the best coaches get eliminated from head-coaching contention because teams sprint to fill jobs once their seasons are over. Super Bowl assistant coaches often get the shaft.
Back to that Super Bowl, and Ernest Jones. Watch this video of the play to see why the decision by Morris to blitz Jones at halftime was so smart. Watch the Cincinnati line shade to the left, and watch the massive hole open at right guard. Then it’s Jones versus blitz-pickup-back Joe Mixon, and may the best man win. Mixon wins the first contact, but Jones keeps his feet, and well, you can see the rest.
Football is a matchup game; when Morris saw the Cincinnati effort to eliminate Donald, he changed up. “We knew if we could get Ernest matched up on the back, we had a pretty legit chance of winning on whichever back it was,” Morris said. “Ernest gives us an advantage with his ability to rush, his ability to spin, spin on the move.”
Morris is a power-of-positive-thinking guy. With a top-heavy-spending franchise like the Rams, lesser draftees and free-agent marginalia need to be coached up to contribute. Nick Scott, a seventh-round pick in 2019, was a special-teamer when Morris took the job 18 months ago. “During OTAs,” Scott told me, “Raheem told me based off the tape he saw, I could be so much better than where I’m at at the time. That was great for me because I saw it as a challenge, but he was expressing a belief in me too. It changed my off-season. I attacked my craft hard. I wanted to be the player he saw in me.”
Due to injuries in the secondary last season, Scott became a late-season starter at free safety. He played every defensive snap for the Rams in four playoff games. Scott stalled one Tampa Bay drive in the divisional playoff game on the last interception Tom Brady would ever throw—or so we thought.
Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is a crucial part of L.A.’s journey back to the Super Bowl. (NBC Sports)
Morris is plagued in the public sphere, to some degree, by his first head-coaching experience. The Bucs were coach-searching in early 2009, and they had a bad memory of letting a young, energetic, charismatic DBs coach, Mike Tomlin, get away three years earlier. So, they promoted their charismatic young DBs coach, Morris, to head coach. He wasn’t ready. After going 17-31 in three years, he got fired. Then he spent a decade coaching on both sides of the ball for Washington and Atlanta.
Had to be tough to go back to being a position coach in Washington and Atlanta after that, right? And switching to a receivers coach for four years with the Falcons?
“Actually,” Morris said, “it was exciting. Going to the offensive side in Atlanta, I got to coach and learn from one of the greatest wide receivers to play the game, Julio Jones. I talked to him through a defensive lens, and I learned so much about offensive football at the same time—and remember, I was with Mike Shanahan, Kyle, Sean [McVay], Matt LaFleur in Washington. Honestly, those years were an outstanding turn of events for me.”
“He sees the game differently than other coaches, and I think it’s because he’s coached both sides of the ball,” Ramsey said. “He’s taught us that too. When you play for Raheem, you see why the adjustments should be made. You feel them.”
Re: second chances … I talked with Morris about Josh McDaniels getting a second chance this year in Las Vegas, and the prospects of him and Morris getting another chance to be a head coach.
“Josh and I were the same age when we got the jobs,” Morris said, smiling. “Thirty-two.”
Hmm. Looked it up. McDaniels got his first head coach job at 32, as Morris said. He’s 46 today. Morris was 32 when his first shot came, and he’ll be 46 in two weeks.
When Morris took the Rams’ job after the ’20 season, club president Kevin Demoff told him it’d be a great opportunity to be a coordinator for what could be a very good defense, then work back to being an NFL head coach. Morris told Demoff: “I’m not gonna be a head coach again.”
“I remember that,” Morris said. “I wanted Kevin to know I wasn’t coming to the Rams for the glorification of Raheem Morris. I was coming to help them win a Super Bowl.
“Now, let’s do it again.”
As with every Super Bowl contender this time of year, so much will have to go right for that to happen again. Joe Noteboom needs to have a seamless transition replacing the retired Whitworth at left tackle. Leonard Floyd and someone (2020 third-rounder Terrell Lewis?) have to fill the pass-rush hole vacated by Von Miller. Allen Robinson needs to take the pressure off Cooper Kupp, who will face double-teams more than ever. Stafford’s got to stay upright, with a healthy-enough elbow. It’s a lot to ask in a 17-game season, with an opener against 2022 Super Bowl favorite Buffalo.
You should know that, in the previous 1,700 words, I didn’t mention that Morris is Black. He doesn’t want to be seen as a top Black coaching candidate, but rather a top head-coaching candidate, period. He’s a coach who had a shot, wasn’t great at it, and set about over the last decade to coach better, on both sides of the ball, with good mentors. He wants people to look at his background, all of it, and then, he said, “The best coach should get the job.” Morris is one of them.
Moment of the Week
This happened Thursday, at the conclusion of the Chargers-Cowboys join practice. The quarterbacks had a throwing-into-the-net contest (Ben DiNucci for the Dallas win!), and then Chargers QB Justin Herbert went to the far end of the far field to practice a specific route. I went down and took a few photos, and a couple videos, when a ball boy approached me.
“I take great care of my arm. Plenty of strength training, ice, all the stuff that I need to so I’m able to throw the ball like that … every week. I think now is the time to do it because I’m not playing in the preseason games. We’re off for the next three days. I’ll have plenty of time to rest it. My arm can take it. I’ll take three days off. I’ll rest and I’ll get back at it. I would hate going into this weekend knowing maybe I didn’t throw as well as I would’ve liked. The way I am—I have to go out there and get it right. Throw, feel good about it, and then head off the field. That’s sort of my routine.”
Snapshot: LAC, IND, MIN
When I saw them: Aug. 16 and 17, training camp, Jack Hammett Sports Complex, Costa Mesa, Calif.
Five things: I was in camp on Thursday, the day the Derwin James deal got done. Everyone understands the weirdness of rewarding a player who has missed 29 games due to injury in his first four years, but seeing James hugging 12 Chargers’ employees (not coaches, not players, but staff members) post-practice told me something about his value to a young and growing organization. When GM Tom Telesco couldn’t make the dedication of a high school weight room funded by the Chargers, and with most of the team and coaches on summer break, James went instead. He’ll play all over the back seven of a better defense … The Chargers allowed a ghoulish 4.7 yards per rush last year. So, it is fitting that the last play from scrimmage in the last game of the year was Vegas back Josh Jacobs busting up the gut for 10 yards, enabling the Raiders to kick the winning field goal. Thus the off-season importing of defensive tackles Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson. “They fit our style up front,” Telesco said. “Size, power, inside anchors. That’s what we needed.” … J.C. Jackson and Asante Samuel Jr., the starting corners, played the Dallas receivers feisty and aggressive in 11-on-11 work … Seeing Mike Williams lay out in a practice, fully parallel to the ground, for a Herbert deep ball that went just off his fingertips, says a lot about his ethos. He was a vital re-sign last March … Just a gut feeling after being around the Chargers for two days: The Deshaun Watson fully guaranteed $230-million contract won’t be the way this team goes when it comes time to negotiate a new deal for Herbert next offseason. I think they’ll make that clear at the start of the process, and the chips will fall where they fall.
Player to watch: Edge-rusher Khalil Mack. He’s 31, coming off missing 10 games with a foot injury his last season in Chicago. It’s natural to wonder if this is the start of a decline for Mack. “I really hope people believe that,” Mack said to me, “so I can go out there and show what I’m capable of.” If Mack hadn’t missed those 10 games, my bet is the Chargers never would have gotten him for the 48th pick in the draft this year (and a sixth- next year). It might have required the 17th pick, which the Chargers used on guard Zion Johnson, who they hope will be a crucial piece of the protection package for Justin Herbert for the next eight years. GM Tom Telesco understands the risk. “It’s impossible to really know [about Mack’s long-term health] but having a head coach who coached him mitigates that risk.” Brandon Staley broke into the NFL on Vic Fangio’s defensive staff in Chicago in 2017 and coached Mack. The plan here is for Mack to rush from the right and Joey Bosa from the left side. Many days in training camp, Bosa and Mack have gone off to the side and worked on pass-rush moves together. “You talk about two guys still learning the game and wanting to play it at a high level,” Mack told me. “It’s been so much fun studying film with this guy. It’s a good mix of finesse and power. We kinda go back and forth all day … what moves to use on later downs versus earlier downs. We’re gonna try to break records.”
He said it: Mack on his aims for the season: “I’m trying to be better than classic Khalil Mack.”
What I’ll remember: Something you’ll see next week in this space. (Spoiler alert: Move on if you don’t want to know a chunk of the column next week.) Meeting coach Brandon Staley at his home San Juan Capistrano for a ride to work. John Carroll University is involved.
When I saw them: Aug. 20, in a preseason game against Detroit.
Five things: Shaquille (nee Darius) Leonard, the centerpiece of the defense, may or may not be ready for opening day in Houston. He had a nagging calf injury throughout the offseason that was eventually diagnosed as a back injury straining the calf. Leonard’s been doing personal walkthroughs with coaches at 6:30 a.m. in training camp, playing the mental game so he’ll be ready when the physical games begin. I’d expect him to play early in the season, and maybe even the opener, but he may not have the burst of the normal Leonard … Nick Foles, backup quarterback, led a crew of backups (plus impressive rookie wideout Alec Pierce, on a first-drive scoring drive Saturday. “We’ve wanted Nick here for some times,” Frank Reich told me. “You know what he told me? ‘Frank, my arm is so much stronger than it was back in ’17.” That’s when St. Nick led the Eagles to the Super Bowl stunner over New England and when, telling almost no one, his elbow was hurting all down the stretch. Reich says Foles’ arm in camp has been terrific … The Colts like third-string QB Sam Ehlinger, who’s throwing the ball with more velocity this summer, and he made two nice drives in the loss to Detroit. But he made a dumb play on his first snap against the Lions and wasn’t impressive overall against Detroit. Pushed out of the pocket, he scrambled right and instead of throwing it easily beyond the line of scrimmage to save a loss, Ehlinger just ran out of bounds. Two-yard loss, needlessly. A limited player like Ehlinger can’t make mental errors like that one … Reich on 6’3″ second-round rookie Alec Pierce, wideout from Cincinnati: “Fast, tall, tough, smart, plays with great confidence, steps on the field and acts like he belongs.” First catch of the day Saturday—a drag route across the shallow middle, and he bulled for a first down. Look for Pierce to play a big role early as a complement to Michael Pittman and Parris Campbell … Bill Polian spent some time scouting players and giving his input for the Colts this week, and watched the second half of the game with owner Jim Irsay. Nice resource to have.
Player to watch: QB Matt Ryan. This is Frank Reich’s fifth year as head coach. Ryan will be his fifth opening-day starting quarterback (Andrew Luck, Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Ryan). Ryan played 14 years in Atlanta, and you’d think a guy who played 14 years with some playoff success would come in and tell Reich, Here’s 20 plays or so I’d like to incorporate into what we do. He hasn’t asked for anything. “Pro move,” said Reich. Ryan’s not one of these guys who’s big into I-told-you-so, but you can bet he’s got some motivation to prove the Falcons wrong here.
He said it: After Frank Reich told me he could feed Jonathan Taylor 370 times this year “and he’d break all the records for yards and TDs,” this was Taylor on whether that’s something he’d like to do: “You can have all the yards and all the records, and if you don’t get the wins, what does it all mean? I just don’t care.”
What I’ll remember: Lunch with Reich on Friday near the Colts’ camp complex north of the city, when I asked him about the trials of having five starting quarterbacks in five years. “It’s made me a better coach,” Reich said. “It hasn’t worn on me. It’s not a script I’d have written—I mean, normally it takes a lifetime of coaching to have five starters, and I’ve had that. In five years—but you play the hand you’re dealt in this business. The crazy thing is, I never thought any of them would be one-and-done. Andrew Luck was gut-wrenching, obviously. Jacoby Brissett, we made a tough decision after one year. Philip [Rivers], I thought he’d play a couple of years. Carson [Wentz], that was gut-wrenching too. Now with Matt, I definitely don’t think it’s only one year.”
When I saw them: Aug. 6 at their training center in Eagan, Minn.
Five things: There’s just more of a positive vibe around this camp than I remember in my last stop. The players had been tired of what many felt was Mike Zimmer’s negative approach, and that showed up in the performance. Being awful on defense with a ton of injuries in 2020 was understandable; being 30th in defense with a better cast in 2021 meant it was time for a change after eight Zimmer seasons … Rookie coach Kevin O’Connell, imported from the Rams, on his team-building approach: “From day one here, we talked about building a positive culture, where we bring out the best in people and people want to come to work every day and be at their best for the guy next to him. We want player ownership of what we do. I learned it from, in my opinion, one of the best at cultivating that culture, Sean McVay. Not that we’re going to duplicate everything that happened in L.A. or try to, but I’d be a fool not to want that type of work environment for these players.” … Receiver K.J. Osborn’s been great in camp this summer. After a 50-catch, seven-TD season in 2021, he enters year three with a legit chance to be a 1,000-yard receiver in an offense that could see Kirk Cousins throw for 4,500 yards … Defensive coordinator Ed Donatell brings the Fangio defense to the Vikings, and there’s so much to clean up there. The biggest area of need: a run defense makeover after the Vikes allowed a putrid 4.7 yards per rush last year. A 307-pound nose man, Harrison Phillips, came from Buffalo in free-agency to steady the front. That’s a vital focus of camp. Linebacker Eric Kendricks should thrive in this scheme. It’s about time he gets recognized as one of the best linebackers in football … So what’s new for Justin Jefferson, whose average season after two years is 98 catches and 1,508 yards? Continuing work on his precision. He runs such beautiful, effortless routes, with almost perfect body control. I won’t be surprised if, at the end of this season, he’s considered the best receiver in football.
Player to watch: QB Kirk Cousins. Cousins won’t say it, but I think he got tired of the Zimmer negativity and should thrive under O’Connell, who will run a completions-based offense (aren’t they all?), likely with two or three more downfield throws per game, or at least chances for them, than Cousins is used to. Now, when I talked to Cousins, he chafed a bit at the suggestions that he wasn’t taking chances or throwing it enough downfield. “I think we’re pretty explosive when you look at what Justin Jefferson has done and Adam Thielen has done and if you look at just the simple numbers with air yards and downfield passes. I think the actual statistics would suggest that we’re doing that.” The stats bear him out—to a degree. His 7.52 yards-per-attempt was eighth in the league. He had 20 completions thrown at least 30 yards downfield, ninth in the league, and two receivers—Jefferson and Osborn—with per-catch averages of more than 13 yards.
Playing for O’Connell is going to be interesting to watch, at least as far as pushing the ball downfield goes. Last year, coaching Matthew Stafford, O’Connell had a QB tied for the league lead with 17 interceptions. “That wasn’t a stat we were even talking about,” O’Connell said. “We obviously talk a lot about ball security, but taking a risk will come up from time to time with how we’re going to call plays. It could be one or two plays a game—maybe a play’s been set up for a quarter or two, you’re just waiting for that perfect time to take that one chance.”
He said it: Adam Thielen on the unpredictability of the Kevin O’Connell offense: “What’s cool is that we’ve learned you never know when the shot’s coming. But we all see that it could be on any play, and to any of us. That’s a great offense to be in.”
What I’ll remember: Graciousness. Kaden O’Connell, the coach’s 7-year-old son, was jonesing to get the post-practice pizza with his father when I spoke to O’Connell on the field after practice. “Kaden,” Coach said to his antsy son, “I promise you’ll get your pizza. Can you say, ‘Nice to meet you Mr. King?’ And please say, ‘Sorry for interrupting you, sir.’ Caden did.
Matt Ryan Q&A
Colts quarterback Matt Ryan, in the bowels of Lucas Oil Stadium, after the Colts-Lions preseason game Saturday:
FMIA: You’ve said all the right things, but doesn’t some voice deep inside you say, I gave the Falcons everything for a decade and a half, and it’s gone in an instant, and it hurts?
Ryan: “You know, it’s one of those things, when you’re going through it, it hurts. Obviously it does. You wake up every day for a decade and a half and you’re giving it everything you can to try and help that organization. But at the same time, I’m not going to let four, five days mar the experience that I had for 14-plus years of enjoyment. It’s a reminder that there’s a harsh reality to this business. I feel like … I’ve never had to go through it, but that’s the day-to-day for lots of guys. I feel like I’ve always been somewhat empathetic to guys going through that, but certainly you know it’s heightened at this point. I really do feel fortunate that I’ve only had to do it once, when that’s just not the norm.” If Tom Brady can leave New England, if Peyton Manning can leave the Colts … it’s part of this life.”
FMIA: Frank Reich has had five starting quarterbacks in five seasons, and he told me he doesn’t think you’ll be one-and-done like the others. You’re 37. Is it more likely you’re one-and-done or six-and-done?
Ryan: “I would hope six-and-done! My mindset is not for one year. It’s really not. Still feel great. I still feel like I’m playing very well. Feel like camp has gone great. Obviously you never know what’s gonna happen. But I would say it’s more likely six than it is one.”
FMIA: If I were in your shoes, I might feel pretty energized by being in a new place and having to prove yourself again. True?
Ryan: “It definitely has. It’s not necessarily football-specific. It’s all of the other stuff. It’s like getting to know your teammates. It’s not just a handful of new guys coming in, as I dealt with every year in Atlanta. For me, everyone’s new. You feel like you’re making new friends, getting a feel for the city and going around and meeting people. Then there’s an added challenge of learning players on the field that when you’ve played with guys for a long time, that doesn’t come up in OTAs. If I had played with Julio Jones for 10 years, in years seven through 10 there was not a whole lot new you were gonna find out in May. But for me this year, there was a ton of discovery in May and June and really now even into July and August every day. Jonathan Taylor not only can run the football but he catches it pretty well out of the backfield—how do we take advantage of that? Michael Pittman—what are his strengths? How does he come out of breaks? It’s taken me all the way back to when I was a rookie in Atlanta. And I’ve been good adjusting to a new playbook. It’s always easier for one person to adjust to what 25 or 26 players know than for 25 or 26 to adjust to one.”
“We don’t even really look at it as going for back to back. It’s being the best version of the 2022 Rams that we can possibly be. Everybody’s got the goal of trying to be able to win a championship. But I think our players know, you hear them talk about it, last year has nothing to do with what we’re gonna do this year. There’s too many good coaches and players around the league that adjust and adapt.”
— Sean McVay, to me, on repeating.
“The message today to all victims is clear, if you believe you have been sexually assaulted by a powerful person, keep your mouth shut and go away.”
— Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, who represented the plaintiffs in the case against Deshaun Watson.
“You feel like a zoo animal sometimes when people are just looking at you and taking pictures; it’s all very weird.”
— Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow, on his loss of privacy, to Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated in Orr’s prescient NFL season-preview cover story on the new Bengals phenom.
“The most rewarding thing about the last year … is about people coming up to me and telling me the positive impact that I’ve had. It’s really just so rewarding. That’s the reason why I did it and I think that everyone can continue to help and be that positive person in anyone’s life to make their day a little bit better. So yeah, I hope that I can be a little push in a positive direction.”
— Tampa Bay defensive end Carl Nassib, who came out last year as gay, after signing with the Bucs last week.
“Gimme a second. Oh, oh … [long pause] Thank you very much, Jim. You made my day, that’s for sure. I’ve had too many of the ‘no’ phone calls, and to get this with the ‘yes’ is just absolutely exciting. It’s a great time in the Klecko house.”
–Pro Football Hall of Fame seniors committee finalist Joe Klecko to Hall of Fame president Jim Porter upon being notified he will be one of three finalists from the seniors committee—along with Chuck Howley and Ken Riley—for the class of 2023.
New Tennessee wide receiver Robert Woods, on the experience of missing a Super Bowl victory because of a knee injury last year:
“I mean, obviously, it is a different experience. I was on the sideline. It’s a full-on story.
“I played in the Super Bowl a couple years before and we ended up losing to the Patriots. Cooper [Kupp] was in my position for that game. He tore his ACL, was on the sideline that day. Having that Super Bowl experience and losing was a total … I’m doing everything in my power to make sure our guys are ready: mentally, physically … so it doesn’t happen that way again.
“I was coaching. Coaching. I had an iPad. I’m coaching up Van Jefferson. I’m coaching up Cooper, Odell [Beckham Jr.], giving guys a pile of energy.
“Oh, I was really coaching up Van. I had the iPad on one of them. I forget the exact play, but I told him you gotta just keep running. Really, I remember just coaching him up and then he came back in the play and he ended up making that correction and making a play. I was like, I’m getting a ring too, so I’m making sure everybody knows what they’re doing, knows what assignments, making sure the attitude’s right. I had a job to do. I remember [Kendall Blanton], one of our tight ends, had his shoulder banged up. He was holding his shoulder and I’m like, ‘Bro! You don’t need to worry about the shoulder right now. Worry about that tomorrow!’
“I just thought, this is worth everything. It’s worth the injury. It’s worth my ACL injury. It’s worth Odell’s ACL injury. You see the smiles. After the Super Bowl, when the confetti’s coming down, the parade, when we get our rings – it’s all worth it. It’s like, you gotta be selfless. You gotta put your body on the line, because at the end of the day, this is all what we dreamed of since we were kids.”
California notes of the week, with a few bonus items from the Midwest:
1. There are two Nordstroms eight miles apart in Orange County. Expensive-suit overkill, no?
2. Leaving Cal Lutheran and the Rams facility, 68 miles to Orange County and the Chargers … but maybe 15 minutes out of Thousand Oaks, around the town of Chatsworth, I see two gigantic helicopters overhead. Like, gigantic pregnant helicopters. With some smoke to the left, off route 118 headed east before going south to Orange County. There’s some smoke to the left, brushfire smoke maybe a half-mile to my left, and suddenly one of these monolithic choppers drops a lake of water out of the bed of the chopper and it drops onto the smoky area. A few hundred yards to the side of the water-drop, there are six or eight firefighters digging a trench. The American summer, 2022.
3. Nice thing happened the other day in Costa Mesa. Ref Craig Wrolstad’s officiating crew—side judge Jeff Lamberth, umpire Steve Woods, down judge Jim Mello and the rest–came off the field after the Cowboys-Chargers practice and every one of them came over and shook my hand and said hello. I didn’t know one of them. Cool.
4. If you saw a crazy man in gym shorts and red T on the lawn at the Hyatt Westlake north of L.A. on Tuesday morning, with an iPhone propped up by a kettlebell, AirPods in the ears … that was me getting a workout orchestrated virtually by my trainer, Elise Young (www.elisesbodyshop.com, for those interested). Only my second true workout of the trip, and it was superb. She killed me. Lunges, dumbbell squats, pushups, planks, the works.
5. One restaurant never disappoints: Pizzeria Mozza in L.A., and I gladly went out of my way on a painful rush-hour drive from Orange County to get there before a redeye east on Thursday evening. Thinnish crust, great puffy edge crust, not overloaded with cheese, perfect tomato sauce with a touch of oregano. Good salads; the frisee rocks.
6. LAX to Indianapolis. Interesting. No non-stop redeyes, so I redeyed to Cincinnati on Delta, landed at 6:35 a.m., picked up a rental car, drove the one-hour, 55-minutes to downtown Indy, lucked into early check-in, and took a two-hour nap. Felt ready to go by 12:45 p.m.
7. If you drive from the Great Cincinnati Airport in Hebron, Ky., to downtown Indianapolis, you go from Kentucky to Indiana to Ohio to Indiana on I-275 and I-74. Bet you didn’t know that.
8. Gotta love the pitch clock. Friday night, Victory Field, across the street from my JW Marriott, downtown Indianapolis, glorious evening, stayed for six innings. Those six innings got played in 72 minutes. Time of Indy’s 3-2 win over Iowa: 2 hours, 8 minutes.
9. Indianapolis to Cleveland. It’s 263 miles between Colts’ and Browns’ stadia. No non-stop flights, which seemed odd, either Saturday evening or Sunday morning. Didn’t want to risk one of the smaller connecting flights getting cancelled, so I drove it and split the drive. I left Lucas Oil Stadium at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, post-Lions-Colts, and drove the first 173 miles to a Renaissance in Westerville, on the northeast outskirts of Columbus, hard by I-71. Got there by 8, ate some dinner, worked a bit. Up Sunday morning, in the car by 8 for the final 90 miles. At First Energy Stadium by 10:05.
10. The flight attendant on my Delta trip home Sunday night was named Muffin.
1. When Deshaun Watson takes the field to play in Houston Dec. 4, it will have been 23 months—and exactly 100 weeks—since he last played a football game.
2. Watson will make $45,367,500, minus the $5-million fine that was part of his suspension, to play six games this year.
So six games played, $40,367,500 earned. Per-game compensation: $6,727,916.
Dallas coach Mike McCarthy is 58 years old. On Tuesday, when the Cowboys had to travel from Ventura County, an hour north of Los Angeles, to Orange County, an hour south of L.A., for practices Wednesday and Thursday and a game at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles Saturday, they decided to take a train.
McCarthy grew up in Pittsburgh and had taken streetcars around the city and area before. Before Tuesday and his 2-hour, 30-minute trip from Oxnard to Irvine, McCarthy had never traveled by train in his life.
We probably don’t pay enough attention to scheduling when analyzing a team’s prospects for the coming season. In a team’s 17-game regular-season schedule, 14 games are the same as the other three teams in its division. The other three games match a team against foes that finished in a like position in the previous year’s standings.
The crossover games were a big factor in the NFC West race last year. In 2021, Seattle was coming off a first-place division finish, and San Francisco was coming off finishing last. Seattle went 0-3 in its crossover games (Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Washington), and the Niners went 3-0 (Cincinnati, New Orleans, Philadelphia).
San Francisco finished 10-7, earning a Wild Card. Seattle finished 7-10, finishing last in the division.
It’s not the best example, because, in retrospect, there’s not a huge difference in quality of competition in the crossover games. But, it’s still an example of how teams’ fates can be determined in the games division teams don’t have in common.
Looking at three divisions this season that could be affected by the schedules faced by returning first- and fourth-place teams…
In the AFC North:
Cincinnati (first place, 2021) plays Dallas, Tennessee, Kansas City.
Baltimore (fourth place, 2021) plays N.Y. Giants, Jacksonville, Denver.
In the AFC West:
Kansas City (first place, 2021) plays Buffalo, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay.
Denver (fourth place, 2021) plays N.Y. Jets, Baltimore, Carolina.
In the NFC West:
L.A. Rams (first place, 2021) play Green Bay, Dallas, Buffalo.
Seattle (fourth place, 2021) plays Detroit, N.Y. Giants, N.Y. Jets.
Who knows how these things play out, of course. But one thing that hits me about schedules this year is what Cincinnati faces after Thanksgiving in Week 12 through 18, abetted by the first-place schedule: at Tennessee, Kansas City, Cleveland, at Tampa Bay, at New England (short week), Buffalo, Baltimore (short week). The Bengals will learn late this season all about the price of 2021 success.
One week ago today, as Cowboys played a preseason game, so did two 9-and-under teams in Dallas area. One coach, Michael Hickmon, was fatally shot amid an officiating dispute. “A football field should be a safe haven for kids.” Story from @JJT_Journalist. https://t.co/jvBuCHC7oi
Important story by longtime football journalist and columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor about the unconscionable murder of a Texas youth football coach. The brother of Aqib Talib stands accused of the murder.
Michael David Smith is the managing editor of Pro Football Talk.
When referee John Sculli had a heart attack during a game, one of the players performed life-saving CPR on him. Now, @SteveHartmanCBS goes On The Road to reunite the two for the first time since that incident. pic.twitter.com/ei5FEznfZX
The Bills look like they are ready to absolutely destroy every other team’s backups.
I mean, they’re also the SB favorites when they have to play against starters. But against backups? Destruction.
— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@FO_ASchatz) August 20, 2022
Aaron Schatz, the Football Outsiders czar, commenting astutely as always.
RIP, Pete Carril.
Does heaven have a back door?https://t.co/19AU3bnoKy
Pierce writes for Esquire and Tweets on all things having to do with the world, and I echo the RIP Pete Carril.
I hate music on a practice field more and more every training camp. Go ahead. Call me old and get-off-my-lawn guy
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) August 17, 2022
Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com is really not that old but he is most definitely a get-off-my-lawn guy.
Football is dead to Brad. From Brad Sher: “The settlement for Deshaun Watson has turned into the worst of all options. Eleven games? Time to come back for the Houston game? Ratings win … $5 million for victims, with $2 million matched? Peanuts. And the apology that turned into a declaration of innocence? The greatest con of all. A predator set free. I cannot support this sport anymore. It’s dead to me.”
You aren’t alone, Brad.
You live in Paris? From Francesco Segoni, of Paris, France: “I agree with you (and Deion Sanders): It’s easier to get into the Hall today. Part of the reason is the excessive reliance on players’ stats. As the rules and style of play change from decade to decade, stats follow suit. I’m not saying we should throw away stats altogether but we should stop using them as absolute references, such as ‘This WR had five 1,000-yard seasons.’ We need to use relative numbers, comparisons vs. other players from the same era. Also, we need to disregard Pro Bowls completely – the voting is totally bogus.”
All I can say is, how did you get so smart about the NFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
Preaching Jim Marshall’s Hall cause. From Dean Dudley: “While I know that Joe Klecko was not ‘selected over Jim Marshall’ as a Hall of Fame finalist, it is still a fact that his candidacy advanced further than Marshall’s ever has. I am baffled that year after year, the committee continues to overlook Marshall as a finalist for the Senior Hall of Fame pool. Marshall, at right defensive end, played in 282 straight games with 130 sacks and 30 fumble recoveries. Klecko, who moved from RDE to NT, played 140 games and had 78 sacks and nine forced fumbles. While the comparison isn’t fair based on the position change, it’s still a question worth asking: Why are Marshall’s accomplishments considered to be less ‘Fame’ worthy than the likes of Klecko?”
Marshall’s case is good, and I’m not on that particular subcommittee; 12 other Hall voters are. So I was not part of the winnowing process for that group. I do know that many people on the full committee give great heft to Super Bowl titles. The Vikings never won one with the Purple People Eaters, and two of the four defensive linemen from that line, Carl Eller and Alan Page, are in Canton. Klecko gets rave reviews from the great players he played against, most notably Dwight Stephenson, and made the Pro Bowl at defensive end, defensive tackle and nose tackle. So I liked his candidacy a lot.
I got a few of these. From David Beall, of Atlanta: “A small pet peeve in your article this week: You say you hope people go back to work for the sake of the cities. People are working, just not from their offices in huge buildings that require them to drive, pay to park, and wear certain clothes. Saying you hope people go back to work makes it sound like if you’re at home you’re not doing anything. I put in more time now from the house because I don’t have to commute. I don’t have to pay for dry cleaning. It’s a huge benefit, and effectively a pay raise.”
All true. And this may just be the beginning of the evolution of cities, where experts will have to find uses for buildings that no longer house workers from the suburbs. I am sure people who work from home work hard. (I should know. I have done it for almost all of my 42 years in the American work force.)
On retired numbers. From Dillodude13, via Twitter: “With the NBA retiring No. 6 [for Bill Russell], only the NFL does not have a number retired league-wide. Does someone merit that? Pat Tillman? Jim Brown?”
This question made me think, Dillodude13. Thanks. The answer is: I don’t think so. I have never been in favor of putting Pat Tillman in the Hall of Fame because of his gallant post-NFL military career, which resulted in death in Afghanistan by friendly fire in 2004. I’m not anti-Tillman; I truly admire his patriotism and selflessness. But 14 NFL players died in service to the country. What makes Tillman’s service any more deserving of note, other than recency bias? (And, knowing Tillman a bit, which I did, I feel sure he’d agree with this; he wasn’t a fame-seeker.) I don’t even think the number of an exceedingly honorable player should be retired. That is the number 32. And not for Jim Brown. It’s for Al Blozis. He was an all-pro tackle for the Giants in 1943 and desperately wanted to serve in World War II. Twice denied entry to the Army because of his size (6-foot-6, 255 pounds), Blozis finally entered the Army in late 1943. He was a second lieutenant, stationed in France, scouting enemy lines in late January 1945. Two of his officers didn’t return from a scouting mission on Jan. 31, 1945, and he went in search of them. He was killed searching for them, and buried in a French cemetery with many of his military brethren. Lots of American heroes had NFL lives before they died. I don’t think retiring one of their numbers is the way to go.
In defense of Houston. From Chris VanDagna, of Houston: “Your articles have been a Monday morning staple for the majority of my adult life. Thank you. I wanted to respond about Houston. Most corporations (mine included) started a hybrid work schedule where you’re only required to be in the office Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Almost all major energy companies employ a 9/80 schedule, where half of the company is off every other Friday (so long as they work 80 hours over the nine days prior. What you experienced was a typical Friday in our lovely city. And Davis Mills is correct: The Texans are going to shock the NFL. I see a bright future for them and potentially a 7-10 season this year.”
Great note, Chris. Thanks. I’m bullish on Mills too.
Can’t see ‘em all. From Iain Beveridge, of Seattle: “As a long-suffering Jets fan from Queens living in Seattle for the last 40 years I do not see either the Jets or Seahawks on your training-camp tour! Is this a personal slight or should I take it to mean they are going to suck this year and you don’t want to waste your time.”
Just the way the schedule fell. Also did not go to Baltimore, Washington, Philadelphia, Carolina, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Miami, Detroit and Arizona. Hard to do 32 teams in a month. This is the first time I missed Seattle in a while—it just didn’t fit in my schedule.
Ten Things I Think
1. I think preseason games, mostly, are a gigantic waste of time, a grifting way for teams to get full prices to see a collection of 30 through 85 on the roster play football that means something only to 30 through 85. The games should be eliminated. In their place: The league should televise the joint practices more and more teams have now. If fans so desired, they could have seen, for free at Chargers camp Wednesday and Thursday, Justin Herbert throw a TD pass to Keenan Allen, covered by Trevon Diggs, at the Cowboys-Chargers joint practice. In the Saturday game at SoFi, fans had to pay full price to see Chargers third-string QB Easton Stick throw a pass to free-agent Michael Bandy, covered by free-agent safety Markquese Bell. You might say, Who’d watch a joint practice on TV? I don’t know. I do know it’s an insult to ticket-buyers to pay to watch backups when two days earlier all the real players were playing competitive snaps for two hours.
2. I think it might be time to worry about the Tampa Bay offense. I’m not worried about Tom Brady’s absence—yet—because two people with knowledge of his time off told me over the weekend they expect he’ll be back sometime this week, and they’re not concerned. What to be worried about:
The starting offensive line at season’s end was, left to right, Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet, Ryan Jensen, Alex Cappa, Tristan Wirfs.
After Marpet retired and Cappa left in free-agency, the starting offensive line a month ago, at the start of camp, was Donovan Smith, Aaron Stinnie, Ryan Jensen, Shaq Mason and Tristan Wirfs.
Wirfs strained his oblique last week; no timetable for his return. Stinnie was carted off in Nashville Saturday night; he was diagnosed with a torn ACL and MCL—out for the year. So the starting line for Brady (we guess) to open the season could be, left to right, Donovan Smith, rookie Luke Goedeke, Robert Hainsey, Shaq Mason and street free-agent Fred Johnson.
No guarantee that Chris Godwin (ACL surgery, Jan. 3) will be back for opening day, though he’s making good progress. Practice this week and next will tell.
We’ll see how the beat-up front plays out. But offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich had better get his short drops and quick throws dominating his play sheet in September.
3. I think that’s a fascinating media deal by the Big Ten, giving the conference the best football deal in college sports and boosting the exposure of both men’s and women’s basketball. (The SEC would like to have a word down the road re the football portion, however.) And they did it without the power of ESPN, going with Fox, CBS and NBC for an eight-year deal beginning in the 2023-’24 seasons. Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren, the former Vikings executive, patterned the deal after the NFL’s TV contracts, with wall-to-wall games every Saturday during the college season, per Michael Smith of Sports Business Journal. Reports Smith:
4. I think putting a football tripleheader on the big networks every Saturday, football from noon to 11:30 p.m. ET, is precisely what the NFL did, right down to NBC now owning the prime-time football windows on Saturday and Sunday nights. The difference, obviously, is that NBC will be counter-programmed on Saturday by ESPN and other college-football airers, and on Sunday NBC has the only game in town.
5. I think, and I don’t really know anything about this, that there is almost always a method to Aaron Rodgers’ madness. And when he calls out his young wide receivers for drops or lousy route-running, what he’s really saying is, HEY!!!! GET IT IN GEAR!!!! You guys are playing opening day, and playing big roles, and I have to have you, so let’s go. Do you think Aaron Rodgers would be calling out stiffs who weren’t going to make the team or contribute early?
6. I think the Football Story of the Week is Kevin Clark of The Ringer on the deep-passing prowess of Joe Burrow. It’s a collection of stories about how Burrow sees things in the defense and changes on the fly, the way smart (and more veteran) quarterbacks do. Offensive coordinator Brian Callahan told Clark there’s a point in every game when Burrow says: “I know they can’t cover this.” The gift of having a quarterback who has the physical tools to execute changes-on-the-fly that his beautiful mind is telling him about is something so incredibly valuable in today’s game. Good story by Clark explaining it all. He’s so good at diving deep into complicated things. I like the fact he got his receivers and Callahan to tell the tales too.
7. I think, apropos of nothing, I admire Andrew Luck walking away from football on his terms, staying away, and living another life. Apparently. It’s so cool he has disappeared and there aren’t 16 rumors a week about him. He’s just … living. Without football. It’s possible, you know.
8. I think when Mike Tomlin says he wants to see Kenny Pickett in more “varsity action,” that’s a signal his mind is a sliver open about his QB1 decision. Good for him. Pickett still needs to significantly outplay Mitchell Trubisky, but it’s helpful that is two games out this summer, he’s completing 86 percent (19 of 22) with three TDs and no picks. Mitchell Trubisky is very likely the opening-day starter, but good on Pickett for making it interesting.
9. I think I really appreciate Judy Battista. A lot. So Battista works for NFL.com and NFL Network, and so obviously she understands she can push the envelope, but not napalm the envelope. But she understands the outrage of the Deshaun Watson ruling and of the appeal and of the settlement. This was the first graf of her story analyzing the settlement:
“Perhaps the only good thing to come of Thursday’s announcement that Deshaun Watson would be suspended 11 games, fined $5 million and required to undergo an evaluation and counseling for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy were a few words near the bottom of the NFL’s statement: ‘Today’s announcement concludes the process.’”
a. Happy 95th birthday to an American treasure, Rosalynn Carter.
b. Radio Story of the Week: Rachel Treisman of National Public Radio with a gem: “A man who held up a bank demanding his own money becomes an unlikely hero.”
c. Some stories seem impossible. This is one of them.
d. Reported Treisman:
Bassam al-Sheikh Hussein, a 42-year-old food delivery driver, held up to 10 people hostage during the seven-hour standoff last Thursday, according to The Associated Press. He entered the Federal Bank with a shotgun and canister of gasoline, fired three warning shots, locked himself in with several bank employees and customers and threatened to set himself on fire unless he was allowed to withdraw his savings — which he said he needed to pay his father’s medical bills.
e. And it gets nuttier.
f. Scary Story of the Week: Indiana obstetricians and gynecologists consider fleeing the state because of fear of prosecution … and persecution, from Farah Yousry of NPR. Yousry and hospital exec. Dr. Nicole Scott discuss the problem.
SCOTT: I mean, our residents are devastated. I mean, they signed up to provide – I’m sorry – they signed up to provide comprehensive health care to women. And they are being told that they can’t do that. And I think it will deeply impact how we recruit and retain people to our state.
g. Imagine people making choices about where to live and raise families, and learning that in some places their medical options are severely limited for women.
h. Coffeenerdness: I neglected last week to mention a really nice feature of the NRG Stadium press box that only a coffee nerd like me would appreciate. The Texans PR staff features a Keurig cup brewing system with a wide variety of coffees, from Dunkin’ Donuts to Starbucks. Never thought I’d have a Starbucks French Roast coffee in an NFL press box, but here we are. Thanks to the Texans for being considerate of caffeine snobs.
j. Beernerdness: Speaking of snobs for St. Arnold’s Beer Garden in Houston (it’s outdoors)… If you are a fan of diverse beers and you can take the warmth (fans are present), this funky place just east of downtown will make you very happy. Get the pretzel.
k. I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I don’t cover the NBA and don’t follow it all that closely. I respect Bill Plaschke a ton. But his column about the Lakers re-signing LeBron James really surprised me. “Two more years of LeBron James? Two more guaranteed years of embarrassing Lakers mediocrity.”
l. Yikes.
m. Would they be better not signing LeBron? How possibly would they?
n. Training Camp Road Song: “Times Like These,” a Covid song with some remote artists combining as the Live Lounge Allstars (Dave Grohl, Dua Lipa, Sean Paul, many others)
o. “All Too Well.” Man, Taylor Swift slays people who have crossed her, and so literately.
p. Or maybe this one. Live, from Tokyo
q. U2 and Jagger onstage together. “Gimme Shelter.” That’s some good writing music.
r. How great is Dennis Eckersley? The Hall of Fame pitcher, who will retire after this season from Red Sox telecasts, was in Pittsburgh Thursday for Sox-Pires and called this Pittsburgh team “a hodgepodge of nothingness.” Is that perfect or what?
s. Column of the Week: John Canzano, the wordsmith from Oregon, on a great mother-in-law … and wife
t. Beautiful writing and a wonderful sentiment, John Canzano:
We pulled into her mother’s driveway on Saturday and found a line of American flags planted in the ground of her front yard. They stay up, year-round. She’s insanely proud to live in this country. Anyone who knows her story would understand. Her journey may have began in a boat, fleeing China. But it resulted in a daughter who emigrated to the United States, became her high school class president, and earned a full-ride scholarship to Pepperdine University.
A single mother.
The little girl, who became my wife.
I wonder how in the world they ever made it. Faith, for sure. Each other, definitely. Sports was the great unifier in my family of origin. We rallied around baseball games, played soccer, and watched football on the weekends. We also went to movies and bookstores. On Saturday, as we drove south on Interstate-5, I asked my wife what she and her mother did together for fun.
“There wasn’t a lot of time for going and doing things,” my wife said.
u. You know what I really miss about home life when I am on the road this long? Doing the crossword at lunch with Ann King.
v. Naps, too. I have become a professional napper. Those will continue this week in Brooklyn. Can’t wait.
w. Not a bad age, 65.
x. I have truly loved this camp trip. There are a few people I’d like to thank. When I signed with NBC in 2018 (I’d been a part-timer there since 2006, thanks to the great Dick Ebersol), I made two things a condition to my employment: the annual summer camp trip, with a videographer/producer at every stop; and editorial control of the FMIA column. FMIA used to be MMQB, but I left that for Albert Breer at The MMQB, and my wife Ann thought of Football Morning in America, playing off the Football Night theme. NBC loved it. Anyway, NBC was gracious enough to send great people along with me. This year, those great people were Kelsey Bartels and Morgan Miller on the first leg of the trip (terrific and tireless), and Annie Koeblitz on the second leg; it was Annie’s fourth time on the road with me, and she for some reason likes this trip and prods me to think of things I never would think of.
One example that you’ll see next week in this space: Annie and I agreed to meet Chargers coach Brandon Staley for a ride to work at 5:30 a.m. at his home 25 minutes away from my hotel and the Chargers’ facility. Annie didn’t have a Go Pro (the portable mini-cam used on dashboards in things like Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee), and so she found one late the day before. She lives just south of Los Angeles, so she was at home, and I was at a hotel in Orange County. We were to meet at the Chargers facility in Costa Mesa to drop one car and take another at 4:40. At 4:09, I was in the shower and heard a ping on my phone. I wondered, what is that? It was Annie, 31 minutes early, saying she was in place. Incredible. Annie, Kelsey, Morgan. That’s who they are. That is their ethos: Just get the job done. I cannot do this trip without them. They drive, they arrange, they sacrifice personal lives, they cut sleep short. I am so appreciative of their work. Future employers of them? Be in touch with me. By the end of the conversation, you’ll think you can’t live without them. Anyway, at this point in my life I appreciate young people who love the work and who make me better, and these three women are just awesome. My thanks to them.
KaVontae Turpin.
Heard of him? You will, quite soon.
New Cowboy phenom.
The Lead: CLE reacts Watson reality setting in for team, Browns' fans Rams Camp Raheem Morris crucial for Rams' quest to win back-to-back titles 10 Moment of the Week Justin Herbert's work ethic shines after practice Snapshot: LAC, IND, MIN Takeaways from Chargers, Colts, Vikings camp 20 Matt Ryan Q&A Three questions with the new Colts QB Quotes of the Week McVay on repeat chances, Burrow on loss of privacy 30 Voices Inside "Coach" Robert Woods' Super Bowl King of the Road Notes from L.A., Indy training camp stints 40 Numbers Game The numerical implications of Watson's suspension Factoidness A travel first for Mike McCarthy 50 Tweets of the Week Youth football tragedy, Watson fallout, a touching reunion Newman! Reader mail from Paris, plus making Jim Marshall's HOF case 40 Ten Things I Think Bucs' offense, Big Ten and the Training Camp Tour soundtrack The Adieu Haiku 5-7-5 forever 30 | 2022-08-22T04:47:41Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | FMIA: A Divided Cleveland Reckons With Deshaun Watson Reality and Why Rams Trust in Raheem Morris - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/fmia-nfl-cleveland-browns-deshaun-watson-los-angeles-rams/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/fmia-nfl-cleveland-browns-deshaun-watson-los-angeles-rams/ |
Sunday’s big development for the Packers was left tackle David Bakhtiari‘s activation from the physically unable to perform list.
Bakhtiari tore his ACL, played one game last season and has been sidelined after having another knee procedure this offseason, which was a set of circumstances that he said “tested” him over the last two years. Bakhtiari admitted to not knowing if he was done being tested, but that he was “going to have to be pulled away from my ankles with my nails gripping the ground being ripped off” before he retired from football.
Coming off the PUP list leaves Bakhtiari eligible to play against the Vikings in Week 1 and he indicated that it is one of his “ambitious” goals he’s set for himself. Head coach Matt LaFleur didn’t rule out that possibility, but Bakhtiari is going to be eased back into practice work before anyone starts to seriously consider his availability for that game. | 2022-08-22T10:58:26Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | David Bakhtiari: I feel really confident, but don't want to get ahead of myself - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/david-bakhtiari-i-feel-really-confident-but-dont-want-to-get-ahead-of-myself/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/david-bakhtiari-i-feel-really-confident-but-dont-want-to-get-ahead-of-myself/ |
The Ravens have not played tight end Mark Andrews in the preseason and that’s left a lot of snaps for fourth-round pick Isaiah Likely in his first summer of pro football.
Likely has done a lot with the opportunity. He had four catches for 44 yards in the team’s first preseason game and starred on Sunday with eight catches for 100 yards and a touchdown to help the Ravens keep their preseason winning streak alive against the Cardinals.
The rookie said after the game that the performance showed he is “going to keep” the promises he made when he was drafted and that he’ll do whatever it takes to keep the organization happy. Head coach John Harbaugh made it clear that they are pleased with everything they’ve seen from Likely to this point.
“We expected him to be a really good player,” Harbaugh said, via the team’s website. “To be honest with you, I’d say he’s exactly what we expected. He’s had some opportunities, he’s made the most of them. He asks good questions and goes to work every day, he doesn’t get flustered. He makes a mistake, he cleans it up.”
Andrews’ presence will change Likely’s role in the regular season, but an eye-opening summer should make Likely part of the mix on offense to start the year. | 2022-08-22T12:58:30Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | John Harbaugh: We expected Isaiah Likely to be really good, he's been what we expected - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/john-harbaugh-we-expected-isaiah-likely-to-be-really-good-hes-been-what-we-expected/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/john-harbaugh-we-expected-isaiah-likely-to-be-really-good-hes-been-what-we-expected/ |
The Rams have defensive tackle Aaron Donald under contract through 2024. The structure of the deal allows him to walk away with no financial consequence after the 2023 season.
He possibly will.
Donald told Peter King for his latest Football Morning in America column that Donald plans to keep playing at least through the 2023 season.
To the extent that Donald’s decision to ponder retirement traces to the fact that L.A. is a long way from Pittsburgh, Donald could try to get traded closer to home for 2024, if he wants to keep playing. It’s impossible to rule that out at this point.
Would the Rams trade him to a team like the Steelers after 2023? If he’s otherwise not going to play and they can get value for the final year of his contract, they’ve be stupid to not consider it.
1 responses to “Aaron Donald plans to play at least through 2023”
Translation: Pay Me. | 2022-08-22T14:45:31Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Aaron Donald plans to play at least through 2023 - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/aaron-donald-plans-to-play-at-least-through-2023/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/aaron-donald-plans-to-play-at-least-through-2023/ |
The Chiefs have waived three players in advance of Tuesday’s deadline.
Kansas City has cut cornerback Brandin Dandridge, defensive back Nasir Greer, and offensive lineman David Steinmetz, according to multiple reports.
Steinmetz signed with the Chiefs in July after spending the last two seasons with Washington. He’s appeared in four career games.
Dandridge signed with Kansas City after a few seasons with the CFL’s Ottowa Redblacks. Greer joined the club as an undrafted free agent in the spring.
With their roster now at 82 players, the Chiefs still have two more moves to make before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline. | 2022-08-22T21:59:04Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Chiefs waive Brandin Dandridge, Nasir Greer, David Steinmetz - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/chiefs-waive-brandin-dandridge-nasir-greer-david-steinmetz/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/chiefs-waive-brandin-dandridge-nasir-greer-david-steinmetz/ |
Now that the Panthers know their starting quarterback, it’s time to begin preparing Baker Mayfield for opening day. Mayfield will play at least the first quarter of Friday night’s preseason game against the Bills and possibly into the second quarter, coach Matt Rhule said Monday.
Mayfield didn’t arrive to Carolina until a July 6 trade with the Browns. It didn’t take him long to overtake Sam Darnold for the starting job.
Rhule said he met individually with both quarterbacks to deliver news of the decision.
“Both those guys are really important to me, important people, so I’m not going to compare them,” Rhule said in a news conference. “At the end of the day, I believe in both guys, and I believe in who Sam Darnold is, and I believe in how hard he’s worked and how professional he’s been. At the end of the day, we felt like Baker’s made a lot of progress in a short amount of time. We felt like it was right to make that move for this team right now. I said, ‘Hey, when we know, we know,’ and we felt like we knew. It was time now with the second preseason game done to sort of start to move forward and say, ‘Hey, Baker’s the quarterback, and Sam, you get ready.'”
Mayfield’s resume is better than Darnold’s, with a playoff win in his four seasons.
In the final year of his contract, Mayfield now gets a chance to earn a long-term deal with the Panthers or someone else. But he and the Panthers aren’t looking beyond the season opener when Mayfield gets a chance to play against his former team in his first game with his new team.
“We’re hoping that he moves the offense,” Rhule said. “I don’t want to make it too simple, but I think he’s a guy that’s accurate. He’s a guy that’s smart. He plays fast. He knows where to go with the ball. He’s still adjusting to our mechanics, our footwork, so I think making this move now gives him time to really settle in with some guys. But he’s a really fast processor. . . . There’s a lot of work to do. I just felt like this was the time.” | 2022-08-22T22:20:36Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Baker Mayfield will play at least the first quarter Friday night - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/baker-mayfield-will-play-at-least-the-first-quarter-friday-night/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/baker-mayfield-will-play-at-least-the-first-quarter-friday-night/ |
Sam Darnold was the No. 2 quarterback taken in the 2018 draft behind Baker Mayfield and he finds himself behind Mayfield again this year.
The Panthers officially named Mayfield their starting quarterback for the season opener against the Browns on Monday. The Panthers traded for Mayfield ahead of training camp, which many took as a strong sign that he would wind up with the job since the Panthers already knew what they had in Darnold.
At a Monday press conference, Darnold said he didn’t think the competition was slanted in Mayfield’s favor. He added that the outcome “sucks” for him, but that he’s committed to doing anything he can to help Mayfield succeed.
“We were fighting for the starting job. Every day was our game day out there during camp, especially as we got into these last couple weeks. . . . Obviously it didn’t go my way. Coach named Baker the starter. My mindset is it is what it is. For me, right now, I’m gonna do everything I can to support Baker and get him ready to play a game.”
Darnold is guaranteed over $18 million in salary this year as a result of the Panthers exercising his fifth-year option, but he’ll be cashing those checks from the bench as long as Mayfield is healthy and playing well. | 2022-08-22T22:20:49Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Sam Darnold: Competition was fair, it didn't go my way - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/sam-darnold-competition-was-fair-it-didnt-go-my-way/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/sam-darnold-competition-was-fair-it-didnt-go-my-way/ |
Signs have pointed to Baker Mayfield starting at quarterback for the Panthers since he arrived with the team in a trade with the Browns and that meant there was a strong possibility that he’d be facing his former team in his first game with the new one.
Barring injury, that prospect went from possibility to inevitability on Monday because the Panthers named Mayfield the winner of his quarterback competition with Sam Darnold. After Mayfield complimented Darnold’s professionalism and called him a “great guy” at a press conference, attention shifted to his opportunity to play against the team that drafted him first overall in 2018.
Mayfield didn’t deny that playing the Browns means more than playing any other team, but said that his focus is on continuing to master the Panthers offense ahead of September 11.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of attachment there,” Mayfield said. “Like I told you guys at Wofford. I’m not gonna sit here and be a robot and say that it doesn’t mean anything. It will. But right now all that matters is me continuing to improve until this regular season starts.”
Mayfield would likely be a little extra amped up for his first chance to make a strong impression as a Panther against any opponent. The fact that it’s coming against a Browns team missing the quarterback they chose over Mayfield will only make it easier for him to find the right level of motivation.
1 responses to “Baker Mayfield: Facing Browns will mean something, but I’m focused on improving”
Cleveland here: Go be Baker. You’ll be fine. Jimmy owns the team but you’ll always be our QB. | 2022-08-22T23:39:11Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Baker Mayfield: Facing Browns will mean something, but I'm focused on improving - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/baker-mayfield-facing-browns-will-mean-something-but-im-focused-on-improving/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/baker-mayfield-facing-browns-will-mean-something-but-im-focused-on-improving/ |
Kellen Mond, Sean Mannion don’t know what arrival of Nick Mullens means for them
On Monday, the Vikings acquired the quarterback who broke all of former Vikings quarterback Brett Favre’s records at the University of Southern Mississippi. What does it mean? Current Vikings backups Kellen Mond and Sean Mannion are in the dark.
“I really don’t know,” Mond told Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “Obviously, this is a business and anything can happen in the NFL. So I wouldn’t assume and we really have no idea.”
Mond played well in the preseason opener at the Raiders. He struggled on Saturday against the 49ers.
“I know I have to still go into the game against Denver and play the way I need to,” Mond said.
Mannion, like Mond, hasn’t been told what Mullens’ arrival means. Chances are that one of them is getting a Water-Pik, and the other one is getting fired.
“I’m just here to do my job,” Mannion told Tomasson. “Just go out there and do the best I can every rep. I feel like I’ve had a really strong camp. . . . Obviously, there’s things to work on any time you step on the field but I feel good about what I’ve been able to do since April. . . . I don’t know Nick. It will be good to meet him when he gets here.”
If Mannion is still there, that is. There’s a decent chance, with a maximum of 80 players on the roster as of Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET, Mond or Mannion will be gone. With Mond under a wage-scale contract through 2024, Mannion is likely getting the short straw, at some point before the rosters cut to 53.
1 responses to “Kellen Mond, Sean Mannion don’t know what arrival of Nick Mullens means for them”
The rest of the world does. | 2022-08-23T00:33:30Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Kellen Mond, Sean Mannion don't know what arrival of Nick Mullens means for them - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/kellen-mond-sean-mannion-dont-know-what-arrival-of-nick-mullens-means-for-them/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/kellen-mond-sean-mannion-dont-know-what-arrival-of-nick-mullens-means-for-them/ |
After 11 days of radio silence, Tom Brady returned both to football practice — and to social media.
In a pair of Twitter messages after nearly three weeks of silence, Brady posted a collage of teammates from practice with the message “missed you guys.”
He also retweeted a video of a guy riding a motorcycle wearing only a helmet and underwear, with this message: “Wasn’t on the masked singer last week. Was wearing a mask though.”
It’s weird, in our view, that Brady would immediately morph back into his habit of posting cheeky social-media content, largely as part of an effort to get people to buy Brady-brand clothing. (Unrelated, buy Playmakers.) He opted for silence throughout his 11-day absence, which continues to be a mystery. Now he’s back, and he acts like it was all no big deal?
Yes, he was gone for personal reasons. But he basks in the glow of a very public life, constantly leveraging it to sell stuff. The whole situation cries out for answers that we’ll never, ever get as to why he up and left training camp for nearly two weeks. | 2022-08-23T00:33:31Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Tom Brady returns to practice, and to social media - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/tom-brady-returns-to-practice-and-to-social-media/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/tom-brady-returns-to-practice-and-to-social-media/ |
Jamey Rootes, the first team president of the Texans, died Sunday. He was 55.
His wife, Melissa Wildgen Rootes, confirmed the news on social media.
“Our family is heartbroken to confirm that after a battle with mental health issues, Jamey Rootes passed away on Sunday, August 21, 2022, in Houston, Texas,” she wrote. “Jamey was best known for his devotion to his family and friends but was also former president of the Houston Texans, retiring in 2021. Jamey was a dedicated Houstonian who loved his city and touched so many lives through his professional, academic and philanthropic work. Our family is requesting privacy.
Franchise founder Bob McNair hired Jamey Rootes as team president in 2002. Rootes previously worked as the president and General Manager of the Columbus Crew before joining the expansion Texans and later worked as CEO for both of Houston’s major soccer franchises, the Dynamo and Dash.
The Texans had 185 consecutive sellouts in Rootes’ 20-year tenure, and the Houston Texans Foundation, which he oversaw, has raised more than $36 million since its inception.
“We are heartbroken to learn that former Houston Texans president Jamey Rootes has passed away,” the Texans wrote in a statement. “For two decades, Jamey led our business operations with an unwavering commitment to Houston and the Houston Texans. We are grateful for his steadfast leadership and immeasurable contributions to our team. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with Jamey’s wife, Melissa, and their two children during this extremely difficult time.”
Rootes taught at the University of Houston’s C.T. Bauer College of Business and served on the board of directors of the Greater Houston Partnership and the United Way of Greater Houston after leaving the Texans. In April, he joined Rice University’s sports management department, where he was leading the school’s newly created sports analytics program. | 2022-08-23T02:32:23Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Former Texans team president Jamey Rootes dies at 55 - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/former-texans-team-president-jamey-rootes-dies-at-55/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/22/former-texans-team-president-jamey-rootes-dies-at-55/ |
The Falcons had quarterback Marcus Mariota start Monday’s preseason matchup with the Jets, but rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder wasn’t far behind him.
Ridder, a third-round pick in this year’s draft, came in for the first drive of the second quarter and played through the first drive of the third quarter. He finished his night 10-of-13 for 143 yards.
But penalties derailed two of Ridder’s drives. On the first, Atlanta reached the 1-yard line before a holding penalty knocked the offense back 10 yards. And then after making it fourth-and-goal from the 1, the snap count appeared off between Ridder, the offensive line, and the center, leading to a false start.
Head coach Arthur Smith was shown on the ESPN telecast providing some hard coaching to Ridder as he reached the sideline with the Falcons settling for a field goal.
“I’ll keep [what I said] behind closed doors, but there’s an expectation,” Smith said postgame, via D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Don’t shoot yourself in the foot down there. It’s pretty good way to put it.”
Then there were another four accepted penalties on Ridder’s two-minute drive later in the quarter.
Ridder noted he has “a couple of things to clean up myself, play calls, getting the operations run.” He added that he feels like he’ll learn from the experience, particularly rallying from each setback.
“That’s just how it is in the game of football,” Ridder said. “You’re going to have setbacks. You’re going to have negative plays that happen. But the most important play is the next play. Being able to go on to the next play….a few mishaps in there. Getting those cleaned up should be good.” | 2022-08-23T13:49:52Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Arthur Smith: We're going to be hard on Desmond Ridder because he can take the coaching - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/23/arthur-smith-were-going-to-be-hard-on-desmond-ridder-because-he-can-take-the-coaching/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/23/arthur-smith-were-going-to-be-hard-on-desmond-ridder-because-he-can-take-the-coaching/ |
The Jaguars had no kickers left on their roster when they announced they’d waived Ryan Santoso earlier on Tuesday.
But that won’t be the case for long.
Head coach Doug Pederson announced in his Tuesday press conference that the team had claimed kicker James McCourt off waivers. The Chargers waived McCourt on Monday.
While McCourt was born in Ireland, he played high school football in Florida. He then played his college ball at Illinois where he made eight field goals of at least 50 yards.
“It’s impressive. That part of it you like,” Pederson said of McCourt’s leg strength. “And, obviously, the consistency is what you look for in kickers. And it’ll be a good opportunity for him and then for us to keep going through the process. We’ve still got a little bit of time here before kicks mean something. But it’ll be a good opportunity for him.”
The Jaguars are traveling this week to have joint practices with the Falcons and Pederson said his team is working on getting McCourt to Atlanta.
McCourt did not attempt a field goal in preseason action with the Chargers but did connect on both of his attempted extra points. | 2022-08-23T15:47:10Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Doug Pederson: We put in a waiver claim for James McCourt - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/23/doug-pederson-we-put-in-a-waiver-claim-for-james-mccourt/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/23/doug-pederson-we-put-in-a-waiver-claim-for-james-mccourt/ |
Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield said on Monday that there will be some extra juice in Week One because he is facing the Browns in his first game with his new team, but one of his former teammates said on Tuesday that the feeling isn’t mutual.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett went first overall the year before Cleveland took Mayfield in the same spot and the hope was that the two players would usher in a new era of success in Cleveland. They got to the playoffs once and won a game in four seasons, which wasn’t enough for the Browns to pull the plug on the partnership and replace Mayfield by trading for Deshaun Watson.
Garrett said that history doesn’t add anything to his motivation for Week 1, although he admitted he would like to reunite with Mayfield at the end of a couple of plays during the game.
With the Browns missing Watson for 11 games, the Browns will take the kind of urgency that leads to multiple sacks from Garrett every week. If they should help ensure that Mayfield doesn’t get his first Panthers win against them, they’ll be even happier.
6 responses to “Myles Garrett: No added urgency facing Baker Mayfield, but I’d enjoy a couple sacks”
Myles Garrett has and needs only one gear. That gear is always set to the highest level of “urgency”. That’s why he’ll be dawning that yellow jacket one day.
When you whiff on those sacks, try to keep your helmet on this time around.
Myles Garrett is showing why he is the best player / man in the nfl. It would be easy for him to say there’s extra motivation to sack Baker. After all, Myles was close to obj, and Baker is a big part of why he was kicked off the team. Wish more players were as mature as Myles.
Meanwhile, Mayfield goes from being protected by one the the NFL’s best offensive lines to one of the worst. MG should have a field day. The pressure is squarely on Matt Rhule to protect his QB.
With how the Panthers protect he’s going to get them.
Zero reason for anyone in Cleveland to be upset at Mayfield. All he did was take them to the divisional round of the playoffs and scored their first playoff win in 30 years. Before and after that, the team has been poorly run and coached. Not much of a platform for future success. | 2022-08-23T17:36:29Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Myles Garrett: No added urgency facing Baker Mayfield, but I'd enjoy a couple sacks - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/23/myles-garrett-no-added-urgency-facing-baker-mayfield-but-id-enjoy-a-couple-sacks/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/23/myles-garrett-no-added-urgency-facing-baker-mayfield-but-id-enjoy-a-couple-sacks/ |
Dawson Knox back at practice after death of brother, college football player Luke Knox
Bills tight end Dawson Knox is back at practice today, five days after taking leave following the death of his younger brother.
Luke Knox, a tight end who recently transferred from Ole Miss to Florida International University, died last week at the age of 22.
The Bills had a moment of silence to remember Luke, and Dawson Knox wrote on Twitter that he appreciated those who had reached out following Luke’s death.
“Thank you all for the outpouring of love and support for my family. Our hearts are broken but we know Luke is in a much better place now with his savior Jesus,” Knox wrote on Twitter.
A teammate found Luke Knox unresponsive in his dorm room on August 17. No cause of death has been reported. Police say there were no signs of foul play. | 2022-08-23T19:21:01Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Dawson Knox back at practice after death of brother, college football player Luke Knox - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/23/dawson-knox-back-at-practice-after-death-of-brother-college-football-player-luke-knox/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/23/dawson-knox-back-at-practice-after-death-of-brother-college-football-player-luke-knox/ |
To this point in the preseason, Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard has been on the physically unable to perform list after undergoing back surgery in June.
Indianapolis head coach Frank Reich has expressed optimism that Leonard will be ready to play Week One. But Leonard has not come off the PUP list yet to practice.
So on Tuesday, Reich was asked if there’s a possibility Leonard may start the regular season on the PUP list. If that were to happen, Leonard would not be eligible to play in the Colts’ first four games of the season.
Reich said he and G.M. Chris Ballard have not yet had that exact conversation.
“Based on the fact that he’s not out here yet [practicing], I guess you would have to say that’s a possibility,” Reich said, via Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. “But I’m not assuming that that’s the case. From our standpoint, we really want to get him back out here, when he’s clear. But even if he’s not ready to play, get him out there [practicing]. And you can’t get out there and if you’re on PUP. You can’t participate in anything.
“So we want to get Shaquille participating, so at some point, even if he’s not ready to play, we have to get him off PUP and get him taking reps, even if it takes however many weeks it’s going to take to get him ready.”
Reich’s sentiment makes it seem less likely that Leonard will start the season on the PUP list. But because he’s still not practicing, there’s probably still some concern about when Leonard will be available.
Leonard led the league with eight forced fumbles last year, also recording four interceptions, eight passes defensed, three fumble recoveries, and 122 total tackles. He was named a first-team All-Pro for the third time. | 2022-08-23T19:21:07Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Frank Reich: Even if Shaquille Leonard's not ready to play, we have to get him off PUP to practice - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/23/frank-reich-even-if-shaquille-leonards-not-ready-to-play-we-have-to-get-him-off-pup-to-practice/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/23/frank-reich-even-if-shaquille-leonards-not-ready-to-play-we-have-to-get-him-off-pup-to-practice/ |
Texans place John Metchie on reserve/non-football illness list
The Texans placed rookie receiver John Metchie on the reserve/non-football illness list Tuesday, according to the NFL’s personnel report.
Metchie said last month that he expected to miss the 2022 season after a leukemia diagnosis.
The 44th overall selection was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), the most curable form of leukemia. APL has complete remission rates of 90 percent and cure rates of approximately 80 percent and even higher among low-risk patients, according to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Metchie caught 96 passes for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns last season before tearing his ACL in the SEC Championship Game. His ACL recovery was on track before his diagnosis. | 2022-08-23T22:42:16Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Texans place John Metchie on reserve/non-football illness list - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/23/texans-place-john-metchie-on-reserve-non-football-illness-list/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/23/texans-place-john-metchie-on-reserve-non-football-illness-list/ |
Don Coryell named Hall of Fame finalist
Don Coryell, one of the best offensive innovators in NFL history, has been named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Coryell was chosen among 12 semifinalists in the coach/contributor category. The full Hall of Fame Selection Committee will give him an up-or-down vote at its meeting in January, when the entire Class of 2023 will be selected. If at least 80 percent of the voters vote for him, Coryell gets a bust in Canton.
In five seasons as head coach of the St. Louis Cardinals and nine seasons as head coach of the San Diego Chargers, Coryell compiled a record of 111-83-1 in the regular season and 3-6 in the postseason. He never led a team to a Super Bowl, which may count against him with the voters.
Coryell’s “Air Coryell” offenses with the Chargers were particularly noteworthy, with Dan Fouts leading the NFL in passing yards for four consecutive seasons while playing for Coryell. Fouts was on the coach/contributor committee that chose Coryell as a Hall of Fame finalist, which may have helped Coryell’s chances — and may be viewed as a conflict of interests.
The 11 other candidates considered by the coach/contributor committee were Roone Arledge, Mike Holmgren, Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, Robert Kraft, Art Modell, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Art Rooney Jr., Mike Shanahan, Clark Shaughnessy and John Wooten.
7 responses to “Don Coryell named Hall of Fame finalist”
Holmgren needs to get in.
Just induct Coryell already! This honor is waaaaaaaay overdue for him. There is no Bill Walsh, Mike Holmgren, Mike Shanahan, Dan Reeves, etc without Don Coryell.
canadaraider says:
With that group Coryell and Arledge are the only 2 worthy candidates.
umcouldbe says:
How does Chuck Knox not get considered when he has more wins (186), playoff wins (7) and turned the Bills & Seahawks into winners.? He’s a 3-time NFL Coach of the Year (1973, 1980, 1984).
He’ll get in.
I have no problem with Coryell being ahead of him in line. Should have gone in a LONG time ago.
Air Coryell NEEDS to be in the HOF, if that’s what it is!
dietrich43 says:
Way overdue. | 2022-08-24T14:46:28Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Don Coryell named Hall of Fame finalist - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/24/don-coryell-named-hall-of-fame-finalist/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/24/don-coryell-named-hall-of-fame-finalist/ |
Jessie Bates: This as an opportunity to prove I’m one of league’s best safeties
Safety Jessie Bates made his long-awaited return to the Bengals on Tuesday and the failure to reach an agreement with the Bengals on a long-term deal was among the topics of conversation when he held a press conference on Wednesday.
Bates was given the franchise tag early in the offseason and talks with the Bengals about a multi-year deal went nowhere before the July 15 deadline to get one done. Bates didn’t offer any clues about why the two sides were unable to come together on a pact and said that his mindset is to use this season providing further proof of his value to the defense.
“I don’t know,” Bates said, via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “I don’t think that’s my question to answer. I think it’s a great opportunity to continue to present what I’m about to, who I am, to this franchise and other teams as well. So, like I said, I’m looking at this as an opportunity to prove that I’m one of the best safeties in this league. I’m not sure why I’m not paid yet.”
Bates will make $12.91 million this year and would be eligible for the franchise tag again next offseason. That may be an unlikely path for things to take given the 120 percent raise that comes with a second tag and the desire to get a contract extension done with Joe Burrow, so Bates may need to look elsewhere if he’s going to get the kind of contract he wanted this year. | 2022-08-24T19:19:16Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Jessie Bates: This as an opportunity to prove I'm one of league's best safeties - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/24/jessie-bates-this-as-an-opportunity-to-prove-im-one-of-leagues-best-safeties/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/24/jessie-bates-this-as-an-opportunity-to-prove-im-one-of-leagues-best-safeties/ |
Deion Jones practices for first time this summer
Falcons linebacker Deion Jones is finally off the physically unable to perform list.
Jones took part in practice for the first time this summer on Wednesday. He had shoulder surgery this offseason.
There was word early in the offseason that the Falcons would move on without Jones, who has a cap hit of more than $20 million this season. Releasing him offered little cap relief, however, and trade talks did not result in a deal.
Returning to full health can’t hurt Jones’ appeal, but it remains to be seen if the team would continue trying to deal the veteran at this point or if they will just move forward with him as a key part of their defense. | 2022-08-24T20:18:56Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Deion Jones practices for first time this summer - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/24/deion-jones-practices-for-first-time-this-summer/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/24/deion-jones-practices-for-first-time-this-summer/ |
Collin Johnson‘s strong bid for a role in the Giants wide receiving corps came to an end on Wednesday.
Johnson was carted off with a right leg injury during the team’s practice seassion and the Giants announced a short time later that he suffered a torn Achilles. Johnson will likely go on injured reserve and miss the 2022 season.
Johnson joined the Giants as a waiver claim last year and caught 11 passes for 105 yards in 12 games. He also had a role on special teams during his first year with the club.
The Jaguars drafted Johnson in the fifth round in 2020 and he had 18 catches for 272 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie.
Johnson’s loss leaves the Giants with Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, David Sills, Wan'Dale Robinson, Richie James, Alex Bachman, C.J. Board, Keelan Doss, and Marcus Kemp.
2 responses to “Collin Johnson tore his Achilles Wednesday”
That sucks. Hopefully he can rehab and come back strong from this to be a contributor next year for them. Being a 5th round pick dumped from the Jaguars already, he’s an underdog to root for.
Tragic! He had a great pre-season and deserved to make the 53 man roster. | 2022-08-24T21:21:09Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Collin Johnson tore his Achilles Wednesday - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/24/collin-johnson-out-for-season-with-torn-achilles/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/24/collin-johnson-out-for-season-with-torn-achilles/ |
The Commanders set their 80-man roster on Tuesday and they made a couple of changes to it on Wednesday.
The team announced that they have claimed guard Wes Martin off of waivers from the Jaguars. Defensive back Channing Stribling was waived in a corresponding move.
Martin is a familiar face to the Commanders. He was a 2019 fourth-round pick in Washington and started 10 of the 25 games he played over his first two seasons. He was signed off of their practice squad by the Giants last September, appeared in seven games and then landed in Jacksonville as a waiver claim this spring.
If Martin makes the Commanders, he won’t have to wait long for a chance to see the Jags. Jacksonville will be in Washington to kick off the regular season. | 2022-08-24T21:21:15Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Commanders claim Wes Martin off waivers - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/24/commanders-claim-wes-martin-off-waivers/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/24/commanders-claim-wes-martin-off-waivers/ |
Kliff Kingsbury: We got what we wanted out of practice with Titans
The Cardinals and Titans were originally slated to have a pair of joint practices this week.
That got trimmed down to one. But Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury said he was happy with the work his team got in on Wednesday.
“I thought lots of good energy. We felt a competitive fire from our guys. I thought they really turned up in the competition, and to go against another team and different people in one-on-ones was really good for them,” Kingsbury said, via José M. Romero of the Arizona Republic. “We’ll watch the film, a lot to clean up but I really liked the energy and I liked the way that they competed.
“We got what we wanted out of it. … They embraced it, which is good. That’s what you want to see. We’ve got a competitive group with some great leaders that stepped up and made some plays.”
Romero reports the Cardinals had a solid day on offense and defense, making more plays than their hosts in Nashville. Receiver DeAndre Hopkins stood out with a one-handed catch during one-on-one drills.
Kingsbury said there’s a chance the Cardinals will have more joint practices in the future, though he also pointed out the sessions aren’t for everyone.
“We’ll see if it works out logistically. Kansas City has had a ton of success, they never do it,” Kingsbury said. “I think it’s how you feel about your team each and every year, and your philosophies. But this was good work for us.”
The Cardinals and Titans will play their preseason finale on Saturday. | 2022-08-24T21:21:39Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Kliff Kingsbury: We got what we wanted out of practice with Titans - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/24/kliff-kingsbury-we-got-what-we-wanted-out-of-practice-with-titans/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/24/kliff-kingsbury-we-got-what-we-wanted-out-of-practice-with-titans/ |
The Texans parted ways with a veteran cornerback on Wednesday.
The team announced the release of Fabian Moreau from their roster. The move comes a day after the Texans made a cut to 80 players and less than a week ahead of the deadline to set an initial 53-man roster.
Moreau signed with the Texans in May. He had five tackles and a fumble recovery in two preseason appearances.
Moreau was a 2017 third-round pick in Washington. He spent four years there and played for the Falcons last season. He has 186 tackles, six interceptions, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 76 career games. | 2022-08-24T21:21:45Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Texans release Fabian Moreau - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/24/texans-release-fabian-moreau/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/24/texans-release-fabian-moreau/ |
The Rams opted not to put cornerback Jalen Ramsey on the physically unable to perform list after offseason shoulder surgery, so that he could participate in practice. And he has.
That said, he’s still not back to 100 percent.
Ramsey was asked on Wednesday whether he’s up to full speed after the recent procedure.
“No, not yet,” he said. “Not yet. Not yet. But I will be when the time is right. That’s what is important to me, honestly. I’m just being careful right now. I still haven’t been doing a lot of techniques just to try and play a little light, not attacking at the top of the route like I usually would, just certain techniques. I won’t get into all of that. But I’ll be there when the time is right.”
The time is right in 15 days, when the Rams host the Bills and Ramsey will be expected, from time to time or all night long, to neutralize Stefon Diggs. | 2022-08-25T01:12:26Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Is Jalen Ramsey back to full speed after shoulder surgery? "Not yet" - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/24/is-jalen-ramsey-back-to-full-speed-after-shoulder-surgery-not-yet/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/24/is-jalen-ramsey-back-to-full-speed-after-shoulder-surgery-not-yet/ |
After Jaguars fans gave Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson a hostile reception in the 2022 preseason opener, Browns offensive lineman Joel Bitonio said, “It seems like more than ever, Cleveland against the world, so we’ll be ready for it.”
Plenty of people reacted to Bitonio’s remarks, given the context, by siding with the world.
On Wednesday, Bitonio reacted to the backlash by sort of trying to play the “out of context” card.
“Yeah, I noticed it,” Bitonio told reporters on Wednesday, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I noticed, and what I said was, we’re going to go to stadiums and we’re going to get booed by people no matter who’s playing quarterback for us and as a team we come out and say ‘Cleveland against the world.’ If people want to take that in the wrong context or talk about it in the wrong context, that’s their opinion but I know we have good people on this team that are working hard and trying to be the best for the Cleveland Browns and that’s where I am at as a player who has been here for nine years, and if someone wants to think that I don’t love and appreciate things in my life, that’s their opinion. . . . But I know where I’m at and where I’m at with Cleveland and the people on this team.”
But that’s not what he said, and what he said was characterized in the proper context. The context was that, while the road team always gets booed, the road team that has Deshaun Watson as a member of the team will get booed even more, especially when Watson plays.
Bitonio basically reiterated that point on Wednesday.
“I’m sure every stadium we go, we’ll be booed,’’ Bitonio said. “I don’t know if it will get worse. I think people get tired of booing, you know? But I’m sure every time he goes out there, there’ll be some sort of boo to start the game and we’ll kind of go from there. . . . I think once Deshaun came out of the game we got booed less but you go to a road game, they boo you anyway, so you know what I mean? So we’ll see how it goes.”
Watson will relentlessly be booed, especially if he never abandons his ongoing insistence that he’s innocent. There will be boos. There will be chants. There will be signs. There will be a specific reason to direct greater, and specific, hostility at the Browns, because the Browns are the team that embraced Deshaun Watson. And Bitonio’s initial reaction to that reality was to basically embrace Watson, too, by saying, “Cleveland against the world.”
The Browns don’t seem to be embracing Bitonio’s latest remarks. The transcript that the team circulated after Bitonio’s press conference omitted the remarks. Also, as of the time this article was posted, the video of Bitonio’s latest meeting with reporters returns this message: “Fumble! Looks like there was a problem with the video.”
Yes, Browns, it looks like there was. | 2022-08-25T11:13:32Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Joel Bitonio responds to backlash for his "Cleveland against the world" comments - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/25/joel-bitonio-responds-to-backlash-for-his-cleveland-against-the-world-comments/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/25/joel-bitonio-responds-to-backlash-for-his-cleveland-against-the-world-comments/ |
James Robinson “so close” to being ready for Week 1
The Jaguars have a pair of running backs coming back from serious injuries this year and the plan is to have both of them in the lineup for Week 1 against the Commanders.
Travis Etienne has been playing in the preseason without any concerns about the foot injury that kept him out last year, but James Robinson has not been active in any of the team’s games. He’s still working in a non-contact jersey after tearing his Achilles late last season and head coach Doug Pederson has stressed slowly working him back into the mix.
Pederson also said he thinks Robinson will be ready for the opener and Robinson certainly sounds like he feels set to take the next step on his path back to the lineup.
“Yeah, I mean, I’m just — I’m so close. And I know I can do more and they know I can do more, but it just, it is I mean, we’re just [gonna] keep taking it slow like I said before,” Robinson said, via John Shipley of SI.com. “I mean, it’s just, I’m just itching to get out there. I mean, seeing everybody running around and knowing I’m there but not yet. I mean, I’m not allowed to right now, but it is just itching at me a little bit.”
The Jaguars are trying to turn the page from the mess they went through last season and having both of their tailbacks healthy for the opener would be a good way to show that it’s a brand new start in Jacksonville. | 2022-08-25T11:45:18Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | James Robinson "so close" to being ready for Week 1 - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/25/james-robinson-so-close-to-being-ready-for-week-1/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/25/james-robinson-so-close-to-being-ready-for-week-1/ |
The Buccaneers needed a roster spot after agreeing to terms on a deal with linebacker Genard Avery and they found it by parting ways with a wide receiver.
The team announced that they have waived Cyril Grayson on Thursday. Grayson was dropped with an injury designation, so he will revert to injured reserve if unclaimed.
Grayson was a sprinter at LSU and did not play college football. He joined the Bucs in 2019 after a couple of years bouncing around offseason rosters and practice squads around the league. He has appeared in 10 games over the last three seasons and had one catch in the first two years before catching 10 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns last year.
Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Russell Gage, Julio Jones, Scotty Miller, Tyler Johnson, Breshad Perriman, and Jaelon Darden are some of the wideouts that remain on the roster in Tampa. | 2022-08-25T14:37:31Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Bucs waive Cyril Grayson - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/25/bucs-waive-cyril-grayson/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/25/bucs-waive-cyril-grayson/ |
Early on in free agency, longtime Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah elected to sign a three-year, $24 million deal with the Jets.
That left a significant void on Cincinnati’s offense, as Uzomah caught 49 passes for 493 yards with five touchdowns. He’d been with the organization since being selected in the fifth round of the 2015 draft.
But soon after Uzomah’s departure, the Bengals signed tight end Hayden Hurst to a one-year deal. And now it appears there’s a chance Cincinnati may have upgraded the position.
After Wednesday’s joint practice with the Rams, receiver Ja’Marr Chase took note of what Hurst’s presence has meant for the rest of the offense.
“He’s bringing more ball movement for the receivers, running back and tight end now,” Chase said, via Geoff Hobson of the team’s website. “He’s opened up more of the offense. He made a one-handed catch today across the middle. Stuff like that is going to get the defense to notice him and take the coverages away from my side, Tee [Higgins’] side. They might roll to his side sometimes. That will be a big help for this offense.”
A former Ravens first-round pick, Hurst was traded to the Falcons in 2020. That was his best season, catching 56 passes for 571 yards with six touchdowns.
It’s worth mentioning that Uzomah’s most productive season was his last with the Bengals. Before that, his best numbers were in 2018 when he caught 43 passes for 439 yards with three TDs.
Quarterback Joe Burrow’s main targets are going to be his trio of talented receivers in Chase, Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. But if Hurst can be an improvement at tight end, the offense as a whole may become that much more explosive in 2022.
3 responses to “Ja’Marr Chase: Hayden Hurst has opened up more of the offense”
dlee513 says:
Great player. Even better individual. Pencil him in for 45/500/5 TD.
I must have missed the fact that the Bengals signed Hurst. Wow that offense really is loaded.
It’s what happens when you actually have an accurate throwing QB | 2022-08-25T14:37:50Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Ja'Marr Chase: Hayden Hurst has opened up more of the offense - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/25/jamarr-chase-hayden-hurst-has-opened-up-more-of-the-offense/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/25/jamarr-chase-hayden-hurst-has-opened-up-more-of-the-offense/ |
Jessie Bates embraces his contract year, as he should
It may not be a coincidence that Bengals safety Jessie Bates, who could have continued his holdout for two more weeks, showed up in time for joint practices with the Rams. His contract year in Cincinnati commenced by giving the L.A. coaches another chance to see what he can do, up close.
Every week this year will become an audition for Bates, who inevitably will hit the open market in 2023. The Bengals have a history of using the tag once, and then watching the player leave. At $12.91 million in 2022, the Bengals would have to invest $15.49 million to tag Bates a second time. And they’ve already used a first-round pick on his eventual replacement, Dax Hill.
Bates, on Wednesday, said he doesn’t know why he and the Bengals failed to work out a long-term deal before the July 15 deadline. The answer is simple. The Bengals never would have fully guaranteed the first two years of a multi-season deal. (In veteran contracts, they only do that for quarterbacks.) That made it easy for him to take a fully-guaranteed contract in 2022, and to wait for a massive, open-market payday in March.
Yes, he needs to stay healthy. Yes, he needs to play well. But if he checks both boxes, Bates will be one of those players who ends up with a significant contract on the first day of free agency.
And every other team knows it. They’ll be watching him carefully. They’ll be deciding whether to pursue him. He may hear some things, from players on other teams — and maybe from coaches, before or after games.
Regardless, he’s in a great spot. And because he wasn’t a first-round pick, he gets to the market after five seasons. And then he quite likely will get the kind of future-securing contract that the Bengals simply couldn’t and wouldn’t offer, not with Joe Burrow on deck and Ja'Marr Chase one year later.
1 responses to “Jessie Bates embraces his contract year, as he should”
Does anyone agree $12.9M isn’t a future securing amount? | 2022-08-25T14:38:02Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Jessie Bates embraces his contract year, as he should - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/25/jessie-bates-embraces-his-contract-year-as-he-should/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/25/jessie-bates-embraces-his-contract-year-as-he-should/ |
The Patriots have been in Southern Nevada this week to practice with the Raiders before the two teams play their preseason finale on Friday.
So it was inevitable that new Las Vegas head coach Josh McDaniels would be asked about his former pupil in New England quarterback Mac Jones.
McDaniels didn’t hold back in his praise of the young quarterback, who finished second in AP offensive rookie of the year voting in 2021.
“Love that kid. I really do,” McDaniels said on Wednesday, via Dakota Randall of NESN.com. “And spent a lot of time with him, obviously, last year. Great human being, got a bright future.
“Really competitive guy that wants to do it right — everything, wants to do everything right. Those are always things that are difficult, you know, when [coaches] leave and you go somewhere else, and there’s gonna be people that you miss maybe more than others, but you’re gonna miss them all.”
Jones and the New England offense reportedly struggled for much of the first joint practice between the two teams on Tuesday. McDaniels credited the QB for fighting through it to manage a solid finish to the session with a positive two-minute drill.
“Saw him yesterday, battling, and that’s basically what happens at this time of the year,” McDaniels said. “I thought he made some really good plays and there’s some other situations where we’re trying to make it as hard as we can on him.
“And they obviously got the better of us there at the end. Finishing practice was a huge point of emphasis for us, and we obviously didn’t finish it as well as they did on either side of the ball. But I think the world of the kid, I really do.”
Jones threw for 3,801 yards with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions with McDaniels calling his plays last year.
7 responses to “Josh McDaniels on Mac Jones: I think the world of the kid”
little jimmy ree ree brain says:
Josh McDaniel only thinks the world of himself.
Xmancometh says:
He thinks the world of his old QB because he now realizes that Derek Carr is a 3rd string QB.
Mac Jones > Derek Carr
Smart move by McDaniels, already laying the foundation to get his job back on the Patriots after he gets fired when the Raiders rebuild AGAIN, next year.
” I think the world of the kid….but I have Derek Carr now, to throw to Devante Adams. So I’m in a better place, thank you”
Jones is looking like the best QB in last year’s draft. Let’s hope BB opens up the offense a little and let’s Max throw the ball downfield a little more often than he was allowed last year.
He’s the coach who drafted Tebow, so he obviously values high character more than most. Just don’t tell the Colts that. | 2022-08-25T14:38:08Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Josh McDaniels on Mac Jones: I think the world of the kid - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/25/josh-mcdaniels-on-mac-jones-i-think-the-world-of-the-kid/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/25/josh-mcdaniels-on-mac-jones-i-think-the-world-of-the-kid/ |
The whole store doesn’t have the flu in Miami, yet. That’s what coach Mike McDaniel is trying to prevent.
Meeting with reporters on Thursday, McDaniel confirmed that Thursday’s joint practice with the Eagles was scrapped because of an “accumulation of some players having having a stomach bug.”
“We couldn’t, in good conscience, just move forward and try to limit reps in practice,” McDaniel said. “We just wanted to make sure that — really, it all comes down to wanting to be able to fully play the preseason game as planned. So the best way to do that with the unknowns were to just keep everyone away from each other because clearly it’s some sort of contagious. But it appears to be the normal symptoms that I’ll allow you to detail if you’d like of stomach bugs.”
He said that the illness is affecting “more than a couple players,” but “not half the team by any stretch.”
“I didn’t want to have half the team drained out from a stomach bug, fight through the heat and then have depleted performance in the preseason game because for a lot of guys, it’s the most important game of their career, and I hold a strong amount of value to that and didn’t want to compromise that in any way,” McDaniel said.
It’s a smart play. It’s the only play. Even if the major symptoms are gone in 24 hours, it takes at least another 24 hours to begin to feel normal again. The Dolphins play the Eagles on Saturday night, in the preseason finale for both teams. | 2022-08-25T16:59:00Z | profootballtalk.nbcsports.com | Mike McDaniel: "More than a couple" players are sick, but not half the team - ProFootballTalk | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/25/mike-mcdaniel-more-than-a-couple-players-are-sick-but-not-half-the-team/ | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/25/mike-mcdaniel-more-than-a-couple-players-are-sick-but-not-half-the-team/ |
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