NFL News

[Futureshock]

I would rather pay a little more for Michael Thomas than Mims (referring to a recent discussion) if the Lions trade for a WR. Thinking a day 2 pick considering Thomas' recent injury history + off-the field drama. Dan Campbell should have inside knowledge if it's worth it or not.
Thomas is a top 5 WR when healthy. Brings risk, but the upside is there.

...

Cardinals. I've been following them closely for fantasy football purposes. Like what I'm hearing about AJ Green and Rondale Moore. There's an opportunity for Kyler Murray to make a run towards a MVP season in 2021 IMO.

Not me. IDK WTF is going on in MT's head. There's a lot of bad mojo surrounding him AND he's hurt. AND his salary is enormous. Hard pass. Give me the young stud on a rookie salary.

[TheLondonLion]

Oh come on!!!! Get away from this nonsense. Let the players celebrate, let the players taunt. These are grown men.

I want to see Winfield flicking Hill the peace sign.

[Cody_Russell]

Me if Sam Ehlinger wins a starting NFL job week 1:




Please do. Entertainment.
...

Not me. IDK WTF is going on in MT's head. There's a lot of bad mojo surrounding him AND he's hurt. AND his salary is enormous. Hard pass. Give me the young stud on a rookie salary.

That's why I would only make the trade if Campbell could confidently vouch for Thomas. If Campbell has some concerns, don't even think about it.
Hypothetically, it all depends on the inside knowledge that Campbell could bring, if anything.

[Futureshock]

I doubt DC looks at the way MT treated Payton (his mentor) and says, "Cool. Yeah, I want some of that."

Not happening. Plus he is injured. With a astronomical salary. Hard pass.


That's the gamble you take when you are 1 player away. We aren't close right now.

[Futureshock]

Denzel Mims is a totally different story.

[Futureshock]

Carson Wentz and Quenton Nelson are trending toward playing for Colts in Week One

Posted by Michael David Smith on August 11, 2021, 10:48 AM EDT

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The Colts said quarterback Carson Wentz and guard Quenton Nelson would both need 5-12 weeks to recover from foot surgery, but they both appear to be on the shorter end of that spectrum.

Both Wentz and Nelson are trending toward being able to play when the Colts take on the Seahawks in Week One, according to Chris Mortensen of ESPN.

Wentz, who had his surgery on August 2, was seen at Colts camp yesterday walking without a limp and without any noticeable protection on his surgically repaired foot. Nelson, who had his surgery on August 3, has never missed a game in his NFL career.

If Wentz can’t go, the Colts would open the season with either 2021 sixth-round pick Sam Ehlinger or 2020 fourth-round pick Jacob Eason as the starting quarterback.

[Futureshock]

NFL makes initiating contact with the helmet a point of emphasis for officials

Posted by Michael David Smith on August 11, 2021, 5:28 AM EDT

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The NFL is once again reminding players, coaches and officials that lowering the helmet to initiate contact is a penalty that referees won’t hesitate to call this season.

In a video distributed by the league on Tuesday, lowering the helmet was singled out as one of the penalties that officials will be keeping an eye out for.

“A continued point of emphasis for the 2021 season is the use of helmet foul,” the video said. “It is a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact with an opponent. The penalty is 15 yards and the player could be disqualified. Even if not called on the field, such actions could warrant further review and discipline by the league.”

Although the rules on lowering the helmet are unchanged for 2021, when the league makes a foul a point of emphasis, that usually means the league felt that too many players were breaking the rule in 2020. Don’t be surprised if officials throw more flags for lowering the helmet and initiating contact in 2021.

[Futureshock]

NFL will retain modified IR rules, allowing unlimited players to return

Posted by Charean Williams on August 10, 2021, 6:49 PM EDT

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The NFL made official what had been anticipated: It will retain the modified injured reserve rules from last season, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports.

The league made changes to the rule last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the move proved popular with teams, coaches, players and fans. Thus, it is back in 2021.

An unlimited number of players can return from a team’s injured reserve list, and they are eligible after missing a minimum of only three games.

After three weeks, the player becomes eligible to return to practice. Once he returns to practice, the team has 21 days to place him back on the active roster.

Previously, a team had only two IR-return designations it could use in a season and a player was required to miss a minimum of eight weeks.

Only players on the 53-player roster after Sept. 1 are eligible to be designated for return from IR or the non-football injury list.

[Futureshock]

Latest On Saints, Michael Thomas


August 10th, 2021 at 8:50pm CST by Zachary Links

Aug. 10: Unsurprisingly, the relationship between Thomas and the team is not in a good place, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link). Rapoport adds that a trade could be an option at some point, but given Thomas’ health issues, such a deal wouldn’t be consummated for a while. The two-time First Team All-Pro is likely to start the season on the PUP list, so he could not be dealt until right around the trade deadline.

And, if the Saints were to trade him, the team would be saddled with an $8MM dead money hit this year and a $22MM dead money hit in 2022. For a team with well-documented cap issues already, that would be a tough pill to swallow, especially since New Orleans would be selling low.

Aug. 7: Saints star Michael Thomas ignored check-in calls from team coaches and trainers throughout the offseason, according to sources who spoke with Jeff Duncan of Nola.com. Thomas ignored the club’s repeated pleas to have surgery on his injured ankle. Instead, he held off until June, which means that he’ll be sidelined to start the season.

[RELATED: Saints Sign LB Kwon Alexander]

Thomas got a second opinion on his injury and was told that he could avoid going under the knife. The Saints supported his decision but also asked for regular updates. Thomas then went three months without talking to team officials.

The Saints have since added veteran Chris Hogan and moved Ty Montgomery back to wide receiver. Those moves may help with depth, but neither player can realistically replicate Thomas’ production.

“It’s disappointing,” head coach Sean Payton said recently. “We would have liked (the surgery) to have happened earlier rather than later. And quite honestly, it should have.”

In 2019, Thomas finished with a single-season-record of 149 receptions to go along 1,725 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Last year was a different story. Between his one-game suspension and hamstring trouble, Thomas finished out with just 40 catches for 438 yards in seven games. On the plus side, he went on to notch five grabs for 73 yards and one score in the Saints’ playoff win over the Bears.

[jaadam4]

I would rather pay a little more for Michael Thomas than Mims (referring to a recent discussion) if the Lions trade for a WR. Thinking a day 2 pick considering Thomas' recent injury history + off-the field drama. Dan Campbell should have inside knowledge if it's worth it or not.
Thomas is a top 5 WR when healthy. Brings risk, but the upside is there.

...

Cardinals. I've been following them closely for fantasy football purposes. Like what I'm hearing about AJ Green and Rondale Moore. There's an opportunity for Kyler Murray to make a run towards a MVP season in 2021 IMO.

Not no but hell no. Wasn’t he the one calling out his own QB a few years ago calling him a racist? Dragging Drew Brees through the mud because he said that he wasn’t for kneeling during the anthem as his grandfather fought in WWII.

Im cool with Thomas having his own opinion but I figured he could have literally called him and discussed it like men instead of grandstanding. Now he’s screening his calls for an organization that’s paying him millions of dollars a year? Hard pass

[jaadam4]

The one thing that I’ll give Thomas is if he’s ignoring calls because they’re pestering him to get surgery and he doesn’t want it. These guys take a pounding and if the man wants to let his body heel up properly then I think he’s totally in the right. I often think some of these guys should take a gap year to fully recover.

I know it won’t happen as they don’t want to get passed up or lose all that money but you hear all these stories about how f’ed their bodies are

[Futureshock]

Bad salmon caused Denzel Mims to miss most of the offseason program

Posted by Mike Florio on August 11, 2021, 6:29 PM EDT

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Many players made the conscious decision to not participate in the voluntary offseason program in 2021. One player wanted to participate, but something got in the way.

It was . . . food poisoning.

Via Andy Vasquez of USA Today, Mims lost 20 pounds after eating bad salmon. The illness kept him from doing much in the offseason program.

“It took a big toll on me,” Mims said, via Vasquez. “And no, I haven’t touched salmon ever since then.”

The illness caused Mims to fall from 217 pounds to 197. He’s back to 208.

“Well, it set me back a lot because those guys are out there practicing every day,” Mims said. “So I’m trying to do everything I can to make sure I bounce back and catch up to where they are.”

Mims had plunged in the receiver pecking order, prompting speculation that he could be traded or released. Coach Robert Saleh isn’t ready to write off Mims, largely because Saleh isn’t ready to write off anyone.

“There isn’t a player on this organization that anyone is ready to give up on,” Saleh said, via Vasquez. “We’re in the second week of camp so they haven’t even gotten a chance to go against another roster yet. They’ve got three opportunities to go against other rosters and to continue to compete and establish themselves as what we want on this 53-man roster. Every single player is competing their tails off and they’re doing a really good job and I’m just excited for them to get an opportunity to go against a different colored jersey.”

Mims, months after bad salmon caused his face to go the same color as his team’s home jersey, hopes to show that he belongs among the group of receivers who will still have a roster spot come August 31.

[Futureshock]

That team wreaks of ex-Pat-Tough guy routine:


NFL tells Texans they can’t close training camp early in order to ban reporters

Posted by Charean Williams on August 11, 2021, 4:33 PM EDT

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The Texans tried to pull a fast one, informing reporters who cover the team they would end training camp early, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports. The intent was obvious: By switching to regular-season mode Thursday, two days before the preseason opener, the Texans planned to ban media from watching practice.

The NFL quickly shot down the Texans’ attempt to circumvent league rules.

NFL rules state that “all daily practices must be open in their entirety to local media through Aug. 26.”

Teams are allowed to limit local media’s access to practice during the regular season.

The Texans’ first two head coaches, Dom Capers and Gary Kubiak, allowed reporters to watch all of practice all the time. The team changed to the minimum after hiring Bill O’Brien in 2014.

Now, under General Manager Nick Caserio, the Texans are trying to do less than the minimum.

[Futureshock]

Deshaun Watson lands at fourth-string on Texans’ quarterback depth chart

Posted by Mike Florio on August 11, 2021, 4:06 PM EDT

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We knew his status, but there’s still something jarring about seeing it in writing.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson, fourth-stringer for the Houston Texans.

On the team’s first unofficial depth chart of 2021, Watson appears behind Tyrod Taylor (starter), Jeff Driskel (backup), and rookie Davis Mills (No. 3).

The development comes at a time when the Texans have realized they won’t get what they want for him in trade, and that their best play will be to keep him around until his legal situation has resolved to the point that three first-round picks and more would once again be justified. For now, with all the uncertainty surrounding Watson, no one will make that kind of offer.

The starting running backs are Mark Ingram and Philip Lindsay, with David Johnson and Rex Burkhead listed as the second-stringers. That’s not a bad quartet of tailbacks; with Watson not playing and showing no inclination to do so, the Houston offense may have to rely heavily on the running game.

That said, Tyrod Taylor has been a very competent quarterback, and receiver Brandin Cooks is no slouch. The bar is as low as it can be for the Texans; maybe they’ll surprise us.

The far bigger surprise at this point would be if they get Watson back on the field.

[Futureshock]

Aw man, this is good:



Jenny Taft puts Skip Bayless in his place for criticizing Mike McCarthy’s weight

Posted by Mike Florio on August 11, 2021, 3:37 PM EDT

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Professional TV troll Skip Bayless got a taste of his own medicine on Wednesday. And he tried his best to not take it.

At the conclusion of a segment on FS1’s Undisputed, during which Bayless questioned whether Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy’s weight undermines his ability to motivate pro athletes, host/moderator Jenny Taft chimed in. Skip clearly did not appreciate it.

“Criticizing his appearance?” Taft said. “I don’t know if I think that is a fair shot for Mike McCarthy. I’m gonna leave it at that.”

She then tried to get the broadcast to a commercial break. Bayless said, “Thanks, Jenny. I appreciate that.”

“I don’t think it is a fair shot,” she said.

“Well, I don’t think that’s a fair shot,” he replied.

They went back and forth a bit (Chad Ochocino posted the video), and eventually Shannon Sharpe (whose demeanor suggested that he both loved and hated the moment) chimed in when Bayless seemed to resent the fact that Taft expressed her opinion on the matter.

“C’mon guy,” Sharpe said. “We’re a team. We’re a team.”

Replied Bayless, “Uh, no. No.”

Said Sharpe as the clip ended, “Yes, yes.”

Instead of engaging her while still on the air, Skip should have just taken it, moved on, and raised after the show ended any concerns he had about the procedure that Taft employed for stating her thoughts on the matter in a way that wouldn’t have given Bayless a fair chance to respond. In his defense (I hate myself for typing that), Skip expressly said it wasn’t a shot at McCarthy but a personal preference. Ideally, that’s the moment Taft or Sharpe should have said to Bayless, “How can you take a shot and then try to say it’s not a shot?”

Then, they could have hashed it out during the segment.

I haven’t watched Undisputed nearly enough (it was the first time I’d seen it since Sharpe put Julio Jones on the air without first telling him) to understand their precise format. But if it’s the First Take knockoff that it’s always been sold as, it goes like this: (1) moderator tees up a topic; and (2) Skip and Shannon go back and forth with competing monologues that are supposed to simulate actual conversation.

What is the moderator’s role when it comes to chiming in with opinions? Should the moderator interject in the moment? Should the moderator add her own thoughts while putting a bow on the subject (as she did regarding McCarthy)?

Whatever the procedure may be, everyone at the desk and behind the scenes must be on the same page — and everyone must treat everyone else with respect. Skip’s words and demeanor suggest that he didn’t respect Taft’s opinion and/or her method of articulating it. Taft’s reaction to Skip suggests that it’s not the first time he has treated her this way. Ultimately, these are concerns that are best left to communications that occur not on live TV, no matter how compelling the moment might be.

Ultimately, Skip got what he deserved. By choosing to engage Taft on her comments while the cameras were on and the mics were hot, Skip got called out for fat shaming McCarthy (while trying to say he wasn’t) and Skip also made himself look like a bad teammate with his openly dismissive attitude toward Taft.

FS1 should regard the whole thing as unfortunate. It likely won’t. People are taking about the show, and folks now have a reason to tune in tomorrow to see whether and to what extent the tension from Wednesday spills over into Thursday.