NFL News

[Futureshock]

Cam Newton: Patriots would’ve released me whether I missed time or not

Posted by Josh Alper on September 10, 2021, 8:50 AM EDT

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Cam Newton promised to share thoughts about his release from the Patriots with a “Funky Friday” video and he proved good to his word on Friday morning.

Newton sat down with his father for a conversation on YouTube about his final days with the team, including the days of practice he missed after failing to follow COVID-19 protocols during days off in August. Newton said he thinks he would have been released whether he was with the team for all of their practices or not.

“Do I think this would have happened without me being away for five days? Honestly, yes,” Newton said. “It was gonna happen. Did it help ease the decision? Yes.”

That led to the question about why he did get released when the team made its final cuts on August 31. Newton said he was getting fewer first-team reps than Mac Jones in practices, which pointed to the team’s eventual decision. Newton said he would have “absolutely” been fine backing up the rookie and told the Patriots that was the case, but was confused when he realized he was being released during a meeting with Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia.

Newton went on to say that he believes he was released because it would have been uncomfortable for Jones to start his career with Newton looming over his shoulder.

“The reason they released me is because, indirectly, I was going to be a distraction without being the starter,” Newton said. “Just my aura. . . . That’s my gift and my curse. When you bring a Cam Newton to your facility, when you bring a Cam Newton to your franchise, people are interested.”

Newton said he thinks the Patriots would be winners with either quarterback, but that sticking with him and starting well would have made it harder to go to Jones at some point this year. The Patriots opted to go right to Jones and Sunday’s game against the Dolphins will provide the first chance to see how the rookie does in the role Newton wanted to fill this season.

[Futureshock]

Isaiah Simmons: I’m not playing scared, or to not get stiff-armed by Derrick Henry

Posted by Myles Simmons on September 9, 2021, 1:03 PM EDT

USA TODAY Sports

No defensive player wants to be included on an offensive player’s highlight reel — especially when it’s featuring Derrick Henry.

The Titans running back has continuously made defenders look silly with his stiff-arm. Henry made then-Bills cornerback Josh Norman his most infamous victim of 2020 on a play that didn’t even count because of a penalty. But Norman was far from the only one Henry took to the ground.

With the Cardinals facing the Titans to open the season, Arizona linebacker Isaiah Simmons said he’s not concerned with ending up on the wrong side of Henry’s open palm.

“I’m not playing scared, or to not get stiff-armed,” Simmons said, via Darren Urban of the team’s website. “I’m going out there to play ball. At the end of the day, he puts his cleats on just like me. Yeah, he does have that great ability, but I’m not going into the game worried about it, trying not to make a highlight.”

Simmons said he sees his job this week as ensuring Henry doesn’t get past the linebackers and into the defensive backs, where he can really be a problem to bring down.

“[We need to] keep him off of our secondary, of course,” Simmons said. “We see the monstrous stiff-arm he has, so try to keep him off our smaller guys as much as possible.”

After an offseason to recover and train, Henry should be plenty fresh for Sunday’s matchup. Time will tell if he’ll add another stiff-arm to his collection.

[Cody_Russell]

^ Supposedly Isaiah Simmons was really good yesterday.

Good for Jeudy. Not a serious injury.
I was hoping this would be the Okudah news today as Dan Campbell suggested ankle or achilles yesterday... Jeudy was carted off the field in the Broncos game.

[Futureshock]

Dre Kirkpatrick signing with the 49ers

Posted by Myles Simmons on September 13, 2021, 5:51 PM EDT

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With Jason Verrett out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL, the 49ers are bringing in a veteran at the position.

According to multiple reports, San Francisco is signing Dre Kirkpatrick.

Krikpatrick spent the 2020 season with Arizona after eight years with Cincinnati. He started 11 games for the club while appearing in 14, recording three interceptions and seven passes defensed.

Kirkpatrick has 13 career interceptions and 72 career pass breakups since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2012.

The 49ers previously worked out Kirkpatrick in July but did not come to a deal in training camp.

[Futureshock]

Difference in this and the Deebo play? The Ravens' Safety makes a tackle. FREE HARRIS!

[Futureshock]

NFL fails to get St. Louis relocation lawsuit dismissed

Posted by Mike Florio on September 14, 2021, 8:00 PM EDT

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The NFL and the Rams have failed in their last-ditch effort to avoid a jury trial in Missouri over the relocation of the team to Los Angeles.

Via Joel Currier of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Judge Cristopher McGraugh has denied the NFL’s motion for summary judgment, a common device used by civil defendants to secure victory without having a trial. Basically, the defendant argues that there’s no need for a jury to sift through the facts and make decisions, based on specific undisputed facts that, given the applicable law, require a victory for the defense.

Judge McGraugh found that sufficient evidence exists to support a verdict on each of the various claims made by the St. Louis plaintiffs: breach of contract arising from the NFL’s relocation policy, unjust enrichment at the expense of the plaintiffs, fraud, and tortious interference.

The ruling means that, without a settlement, the case will go to trial. The trial currently is set to begin in January. If it goes forward as schedule it likely will be happening at the same time the Rams host the Super Bowl in their new stadium.

Although the NFL undoubtedly will try one or more creative strategies for avoiding a public reckoning before a jury of average citizens, it’s looking more and more likely that people like Commissioner Roger Goodell, Rams owner Stan Kroenke, and other key owners and witnesses will be placed on a witness stand and subjected to potentially withering cross-examination regarding alleged (or actual) factual inconsistencies regarding the relocation of the Rams.

The possibility of various rich and powerful people being forced to yield to the power of a judge and/or a jury makes a settlement even more likely. However, because the plaintiffs know this, that could make the price to settle the case ridiculously high.

Either way, the NFL has a huge problem on its hands. That problem ultimately flows back to Kroenke, based on reports that he’s responsible for footing the full financial bill arising from the legal fallout of his move.

Whatever the final price, chances are he can afford it.

[Futureshock]

Maybe people would like to see a team that isn't a NFL favorite. I didn't watch it nor even remembered it was on. DAL should have not been picked. They're talked about enough FFS


Announcement is coming Thursday about the future of Hard Knocks

Posted by Mike Florio on September 14, 2021, 7:10 PM EDT

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Hard Knocks has outlived its usefulness. It’s possible that the NFL finally agrees.

Citing a league official, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports that an an announcement will be made during halftime of Thursday night’s Giants-Washington game “that will involve the future of the Hard Knocks series.”

The most prudent announcement would be to end it. It currently adds nothing at all to the NFL discourse or the broader football experience. This year, with the Cowboys serving as the focal point of the series, it was conspicuously uneventful (but for the drone segment). I watched the first two episodes before forgetting it was even on.

It had its time. Its time is over. The most compelling scenes — players learning that they’re being cut — are now omitted, because we never should have had a front-row seat for such sensitive exchanges.

There’s simply no reason to do it. It’s not interesting. It’s definitely not must-see TV. It’s become forgettable and irrelevant, and the league’s broader interests would be better served if it simply went away.

The NFL is making some sort of announcement on Thursday night, just nine days after the 2021 finale. While it’s not know what the announcement will be, it should be an announcement that it will be no more.

[Futureshock]

NFL makes coach conference calls with opposing reporters non-mandatory

Posted by Mike Florio on September 14, 2021, 6:53 PM EDT

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A mini-kerfuffle emerged on Tuesday, with various reporters who cover the Broncos openly complaining about the fact that the Jaguars won’t be making coach Urban Meyer available for a conference call in advance of Sunday’s game between the two teams.

In past years, it was mandatory. This year, the league made it optional.

The sessions traditionally have been valuable, with many relevant quotes coming when reporters who have no reason to tread lightly with a given coach willing to ask pointed questions. Often, the reporters that regularly cover a team don’t want to be the one to ask the question that they know won’t be appreciated — an in turn could impact access, relationships, etc.

The league, as we understand it, decided to stop making the sessions mandatory because they weren’t useful or properly utilized. They’re definitely useful. We’ve based many PFT items over the years on quotes given by a coach to the media covering the opposing team. Given the pragmatic limitations on the things that many reporters covering a given team will ask that team’s coach, it makes sense to make them available to reporters who may be less inclined to avoid third-rail topics.

Like, you know, the sudden coaching vacancy at USC.

[Futureshock]

Yo Jadaam...

[JGSpartan]

Jameis has always had elite arm talent and the ability to make all the throws. I've said it before but there's no doubt in my mind TB would've been a SB contender his last year there if not for throwing 30 INT's. Cut that in half and they are legit contenders. If he's grown out of that plus better eyesight which could help more than you might think he could be dangerous. Not gonna overreact on one game though.

I think people just took my comments as trying to tear down Brady though when I was saying the Bucs would be SB contenders with most NFL starters and would possibly be better with a handful of them. There's just so much receiving talent on that team even before even adding Gronk and Brown. Combined with an elite pass rushing Defense. Brady has had a great career but he'd be losing here in Detroit or the Jets etc just like everyone else and would be getting hit too much to keep playing. He has near zero pocket mobility even at this point. He used to at least be great at that. He sees the defense and gets the ball off better than probably any QB ever though and can still do that.

[Futureshock]

ZACK MOSSRB, BUFFALO BILLS
Bills head coach Sean McDermott said RB Zack Moss was inactive in Week 1 due to health concerns and that Moss has "looked good" in practice this week.


Moss struggled through some August injuries and was a scratch for Buffalo's Week 1 loss to the Steelers. Devin Singletary played 75.2 percent of the Bills' offensive snaps and saw 11 carries for 72 yards and three catches for eight yards. Moss' return to the lineup will cap Singletary's usage in Week 2 against the Dolphins. Last year, Singletary averaged 8.7 rushing attempts and three targets per game when Moss was active. Both Singletary and Moss will be iffy RB3/4 options this week.

... See More
RELATED:

• Devin Singletary

SOURCE: Alaina Getzenberg on Twitter
Sep 17, 2021, 11:42 AM

[Futureshock]

Now being hurt for 75-90% of the season (well, when he isn't taking roids to strengthen himself) isn't enough....


WILL FULLERWR, MIAMI DOLPHINS
Dolphins head coach Brian Flores said Will Fuller will miss Week 2 against the Bills with a personal issue.


Far more consequential for the Dolphins: Flores refused to say Fuller will return to the team in 2021. He was set to make his Miami debut this week against the Bills after serving the final game of a PED suspension handed down near the end of the 2020 season. The team has offered no details on Fuller's "personal issue," but it sounds like one that could affect his status with the team. The Dolphins signed Fuller to a one-year, $10 million fully-guaranteed deal this offseason. DeVante Parker and Jaylen Waddle profiles as the team's top two wideouts with Fuller out. Fantasy managers should hold Fuller for now.

SOURCE: Cameron Wolfe on Twitter
Sep 17, 2021, 11:03 AM

[Futureshock]

Why did they expend a 1st on him and not use him? They could use a 1st rounder on any level of that terrible D. Oh well


KADARIUS TONEYWR, NEW YORK GIANTS
Kadarius Toney did not receive a touch in the Giants' Week 2 loss to Washington.


Toney and fellow wideout Kenny Golladay were visibly upset on the sideline Thursday night while the Giants went back and forth with Washington. Toney, who played 19 snaps Thursday night, stormed off after head coach Joe Judge pulled him aside in the third quarter and spoke to him briefly. After the game, Toney posted to Instagram: “i don’t be mad, s—t just be lame to me." The 20th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft missed most of training camp with COVID-19 and was hardly utilized in New York's opener against Denver, catching both of his targets for -2 yards. Toney should only be rostered in the deepest fantasy formats.

SOURCE: NJ.com
Sep 17, 2021, 8:21 AM

[JGSpartan]

Anyone else buying the possibility of all 4 NFC West teams having a solid chance at making the playoffs? TB has their division but NO and CAR are only maybe contenders. In the east Dallas has looked good having Dak back but I'm not sure the rest of the division has progressed much since last year. No one yet in the North is looking special though a couple could compete for spots.

I think it's going to be an interesting thing to watch this year.

[-Deborah-]

Maybe people would like to see a team that isn't a NFL favorite. I didn't watch it nor even remembered it was on. DAL should have not been picked. They're talked about enough FFS


Announcement is coming Thursday about the future of Hard Knocks

Posted by Mike Florio on September 14, 2021, 7:10 PM EDT

Getty Images

Hard Knocks has outlived its usefulness. It’s possible that the NFL finally agrees.

Citing a league official, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports that an an announcement will be made during halftime of Thursday night’s Giants-Washington game “that will involve the future of the Hard Knocks series.”

The most prudent announcement would be to end it. It currently adds nothing at all to the NFL discourse or the broader football experience. This year, with the Cowboys serving as the focal point of the series, it was conspicuously uneventful (but for the drone segment). I watched the first two episodes before forgetting it was even on.

It had its time. Its time is over. The most compelling scenes — players learning that they’re being cut — are now omitted, because we never should have had a front-row seat for such sensitive exchanges.

There’s simply no reason to do it. It’s not interesting. It’s definitely not must-see TV. It’s become forgettable and irrelevant, and the league’s broader interests would be better served if it simply went away.

The NFL is making some sort of announcement on Thursday night, just nine days after the 2021 finale. While it’s not know what the announcement will be, it should be an announcement that it will be no more.

Of course they'll cancel it when the Lions are due to be the next team...lol.

I loved the show when it started but admit to skipping a few years of it till last year - the impact of COVID on the NFL was interesting to me. I totally forgot about it this year. I don't think there is anything groundbreaking it can offer anymore, unless exposing some of the idiocy in Allen Park would lead to some change.