NFL News

[Futureshock]

Report: Brett Favre hasn’t repaid $600,000 of $1.1 million from Mississippi welfare fund

Posted by Mike Florio on May 6, 2021, 7:52 PM EDT

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Brett Favre quickly escaped a major P.R. mess (and potential legal entanglement) last year by promising to repay $1.1 million in Mississippi welfare funds for work he reportedly never performed. The story died when Favre paid back $500,000 of the money, with a vow to reimburse the rest.

According to Anna Wolfe of Mississippi Today, Favre has not yet paid the remaining $600,000.

“My agent is often approached by different products and brands for me to appear in one way or another,” Favre tweeted when the issue arose last May. “This request was no different, and I did numerous ads for Families First.”

Last week, Favre’s longtime agent, Bus Cook, told Mississippi Today that “he had nothing to do with Favre’s contract” with the Mississippi Community Education Center, a nonprofit that received (and spent) millions in welfare funds from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

Maybe Favre will address the issue in the next episode of the Bolling with Favre podcast.

[Futureshock]

Texas linebacker Jake Ehlinger, brother of Colts rookie Sam Ehlinger, found dead

Posted by Michael David Smith on May 6, 2021, 5:27 PM EDT

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Texas linebacker Jake Ehlinger, the younger brother of Colts quarterback Sam Ehlinger, was found dead today in Austin.

Police said they found Ehlinger when responding to a call today at 12:18 p.m., according to the Austin American-Statesman. His death is not considered suspicious.

An excellent student, Jake Ehlinger considered playing Ivy League football but decided to walk on at Texas and join his brother instead. Their father Ross Ehlinger, who died of a heart attack while competing in a triathlon in 2013, was a Texas alum, and the Ehlinger boys said playing together at Texas was a way to honor their father’s memory.

After Sam Ehlinger was drafted by the Colts on Saturday, NFL Network mistakenly showed Jake, which Sam said made him happy.

“Jake deserves all the screen time you can get,” Sam said when reporters in Indianapolis asked him about it.

When the Ehlingers ran out onto the field together for the first time as Texas teammates, Sam Ehlinger said, “Unreal, we’ve been dreaming of that our whole lives.”

[jaadam4]

Tebow is a dummy. So now all of the sudden he wants to be a TE? He could have been great in NE when B.B wanted him to switch positions but he was completely against it.

[Futureshock]

I was thinking the same. He will play TE for Urban, but he wouldn't previously for BB. Ok then

[jaadam4]

He wasted a handful of years. With his frame and work ethic he could have been really good. Especially considering Brady would have been throwing to him

[Futureshock]

There you go Lions fans:

Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler is favored to be the first overall pick in 2022

Posted by Mike Florio on May 10, 2021, 6:13 PM EDT

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After a two-year break, the run of Oklahoma quarterbacks being the first overall pick in the NFL draft could continue.

Oklahoma signal-caller Spencer Rattler is favored by the PointsBet sportsbook to hear his name called first in 2022, at +225 odds. Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield was the first overall pick in 2018, followed by Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray in 2019.

Next on the list is North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (+350), Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (+400), LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (+800), USC quarterback Kedon Slovis (+1000), Liberty quarterback Malik Willis (+1500), Georgia quarterback JT Daniels (+1800), Florida quarterback Emory Jones (+2000), Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels (+2000), and Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton (+2500).

At BetMGM, Thibodeaux is the favorite at +250, following by Rattler (+300), Howell (+400), Slovis (+800), Stingley (+1100), Wills (+1400), Daniels (+1400), Hamilton (+2000), Miami tackle Zion Nelson (+2500), and Alabama tackle Evan Neal (+2500).

Two of the ten players with the shortest odds on PointsBet — Emory Jones and Jayden Daniels — are off the board for BetMGM.

Other major sportsbooks, including FanDuel and DraftKings, currently don’t have odds for the 2022 draft. (If they do and I’m just missing them on their websites — which is entirely possible — let me know.)

[Futureshock]

Ready to jump ship...


Davante Adams: Aaron Rodgers’ future “potentially” could affect my future

Posted by Charean Williams on May 10, 2021, 5:47 PM EDT

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The Packers may or may not have quarterback Aaron Rodgers this season. That could affect whether they have receiver Davante Adams in 2022.

Rodgers and the franchise are in a standoff that remains to be seen how it’s going to end.

Adams is entering the final year of his contract, scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2022. The four-time Pro Bowler told Colin Cowherd on Monday that he supports his quarterback “100 percent” and that Rodgers’ future could affect his future.

“Potentially. Potentially,” Adams said on The Herd. “That’s my guy. That’s the only guy I’ve had other than that 2017 season when he got hurt. That’s the only guy that I’ve played with. We’ve built up a special connection over the years that has put us both in really good positions in our career. Not that he needed me to come along for it, because he was already in that spot.

“We’ve established a lot together. It would change a lot, man. It doesn’t mean I’d be gone, but I’d definitely have to do some extra thinking if my guy wasn’t here.”

The Packers still were able to re-sign left tackle David Bakhtiari and running back Aaron Jones this offseason despite the uncertainty about whether Rodgers will play for them again.

The Packers surely want Adams back long term.

Adams, 28, has averaged 103 receptions for 1,252 yards and 12 touchdowns the past three seasons. But that’s with Rodgers as his quarterback, not Jordan Love.

If Rodgers leaves, Adams could, too, a year from now.

[Futureshock]

Report: Eric Fisher may not be ready until October

Posted by Josh Alper on May 10, 2021, 1:54 PM EDT

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The Colts are signing Eric Fisher, but he may not be replacing Anthony Castonzo as the team’s left tackle right off the bat.

Fisher tore his Achilles in the AFC Championship Game in January, so he’s spending the offseason rehabbing and working his way back to health. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Colts are comfortable with how that rehab is progressing and that they don’t want to push him to increase his pace.

As a result, Rapoport reports that Fisher may not be ready to go until October.

The Colts didn’t draft a tackle, but they did sign Sam Tevi as a free agent. If Fisher needs more time, Tevi could open the year in the starting lineup in Indianapolis.

[Futureshock]

Patriots have more than 50 players showing up for voluntary offseason work

Posted by Michael David Smith on May 10, 2021, 1:12 PM EDT

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Players on the Patriots released a statement last month saying “many of us” would follow the NFLPA’s guidance to skip voluntary offseason work at the team facility. But most Patriots are participating.

More than 50 players have been present, a source told Mike Reiss of ESPN. That’s a clear majority of the players under contract.

We don’t know all the names of the players who have been there, or whether any key players are staying home in solidarity with the NFLPA. But among the key players who have been participating are starting quarterback Cam Newton, special teams captain Matthew Slater, tackle Trent Brown, tight end Jonnu Smith, receiver Jakobi Meyers, defensive back Jalen Mills and receiver Kendrick Bourne.

Realistically, on a team like the Patriots, where last season left a bitter taste in the players’ mouths, it wasn’t going to be easy for the NFLPA to get many players to go along with the decision to skip voluntary offseason work. Most of the players in the Patriots’ locker room want to get better this year, and they think that starts with hard work in the offseason, even if the rules say they don’t have to be there.

[Futureshock]

Jordan Love has “a long way to go”

Posted by Mike Florio on May 10, 2021, 11:19 AM EDT

USA TODAY Sports

The Packers sacrificed two shots at players (via round one and four) who could have helped the team in 2020 for a player who did nothing to assist the effort to advance beyond the NFC title game. Will quarterback Jordan Love help the team in 2021?

That remains to be seen, and it hinges on: (1) whether the Packers trade Aaron Rodgers; (2) whether Rodgers retires; and (3) whether, if either of the first two happen, the Packers will entrust the job to Love, or to someone else.

Many assume that Love would automatically be the post-Rodgers quarterback. No one knows whether Love would be ready, however.

Consider these quotes from Packers G.M. Brian Gutekunst after the first round of the draft, via Matt Schneidman of TheAthletic.com: “He’s got a long way to go. Obviously we think the world of Jordan and where he’s going to grow and develop. I think it’s pretty early to be able to tell you that because obviously with no preseason games last year and just kind of the no-spring, but we have a lot of confidence in his talents, in his work ethic and where he’s going to go. But it’s a little early for that.”

Gutekunst’s public explanation meshes with the private assessments of Love. Teammates, per a source with knowledge of the situation, haven’t seen enough from Love to make them think he’s ready to go. In fairness to Love, he’s had few chances to show what he can do, especially with no 2020 preseason.

At some point, the Packers will find out what he has. If Rodgers stays away from the offseason program, Love will get extra reps. If Rodgers holds out and/or retires, Love may quickly be the guy.

In other words, Love has a long way to go — and it may be that he has a short time to get there.

[Futureshock]

AARON RODGERSQB, GREEN BAY PACKERS


NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the Packers made a "significant" long-term contract extension offer to Aaron Rodgers.


There's been "some engagement" from Rodgers and his agent, Rapoport said, adding the Packers still have "zero plans whatsoever" to trade their franchise quarterback. The relationship between Rodgers and the team remains fraught, at best, with some in Rodgers' circle believing he'll dig in and hold out until Green bay trades him. The Broncos have reportedly pieced together trade proposals in hopes of landing Rodgers should the Packers give in over the next couple months. Green Bay trading Rodgers would alter the fantasy football landscape this summer. Davante Adams and Aaron Jones would see their ADPs fall as Broncos pass catchers and running backs would see a value spike with Rodgers under center.

... See More
SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
May 11, 2021, 9:38 AM

[jaadam4]

AARON RODGERSQB, GREEN BAY PACKERS


NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the Packers made a "significant" long-term contract extension offer to Aaron Rodgers.


There's been "some engagement" from Rodgers and his agent, Rapoport said, adding the Packers still have "zero plans whatsoever" to trade their franchise quarterback. The relationship between Rodgers and the team remains fraught, at best, with some in Rodgers' circle believing he'll dig in and hold out until Green bay trades him. The Broncos have reportedly pieced together trade proposals in hopes of landing Rodgers should the Packers give in over the next couple months. Green Bay trading Rodgers would alter the fantasy football landscape this summer. Davante Adams and Aaron Jones would see their ADPs fall as Broncos pass catchers and running backs would see a value spike with Rodgers under center.

... See More
SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
May 11, 2021, 9:38 AM

I hope GB digs in and doesn’t trade him so they get nothing when he ups and retires. Truthfully I don’t even know what you’d offer up for 37 year old future HoF. He’s got 2 years of high caliber ball but who knows after that.

[froot loops]

He's got more than 2 years.

[jaadam4]

He's got more than 2 years.

Possibly but all it takes us one play. Rodgers moves around a lot and i can see him taking a shot ending it. I don’t like him for destroying the Lions all of these years, I hope it doesn’t go down like that

[froot loops]

If Brady can make to age 45, Rodgers can too. He would definitely make it to 45 here with this burgeoning offensive line.