NFL News

[Futureshock]

And it begins...

Gerald McCoy suffered knee injury in today’s practice.

And you guys want to draft 2 weeks ahead of the start?

[Cody_Russell]

Surprised there will be fans at NFL games this year. No idea how good/ bad this will be for a potential outbreak. ... particularly, for an indoor stadium. It makes me slightly more nervous about potential problems. We'll see.

[Forsh]

And you guys want to draft 2 weeks ahead of the start?

Oh a player got injured i can't believe it!

WE ALL DRAFT AT THE SAME TIME MAN ... players can get hurt anytime

[Futureshock]

Well, let's draft this Friday then. Why wait?

[Futureshock]

Rashan Gary working to be “impact player” this season

Posted by Charean Williams on August 17, 2020, 8:25 PM EDT

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Rashan Gary. Remember him?

The Packers made Gary the 12th overall choice in 2019. He made no starts in his rookie season, played 244 defensive snaps (24 percent) and had 21 tackles and two sacks.

Gary, 22, returned a few pounds heavier, at 276, and much hungrier after a disappointing start to his career.

“That’s not even a question,” Gary said when asked how hungry he is, via Mike Spofford of the team website. “Everything I did in the offseason to this point is about being the best me, coming back and being an impact player. You know that’s what I want to be, and that’s what I will be. So that’s just been my whole mindset, and I’m just down and grinding.”

Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said this offseason he has high expectations for Gary. Gary is taking a “large share” of first-team snaps, according to Spofford.

After watching Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith last season, Gary is ready to contribute this season.

“My mindset is to be great,” Gary said. “I’ve got a lot of examples in front of me last year watching ‘P,’ watching ‘Z’ and I know what it takes.

“My body is right, mind right, and just ready to go.”

[Futureshock]

Bears will begin season without fans at Soldier Field

Posted by Charean Williams on August 17, 2020, 7:44 PM EDT

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The Bears announced Monday they will begin the 2020 season without fans in the stands at Soldier Field.

They will continue to evaluate things on a week-by-week basis and hope the COVID-19 numbers change enough during the season that they can open the gates to at least some fans at some point.

Chicago’s home opener is Sept. 20 against the Giants with its next home game on Oct. 4 against the Colts.

“The Chicago Bears, Soldier Field’s management partner, ASM Global, the Chicago Park District and public health officials have worked together to assess whether a responsible plan that follows city, state, CDC and NFL guidelines could be developed to safely accommodate a limited number of fans at Soldier Field this season,” the Bears wrote on social media. “After discussing a draft plan with city health officials, the Bears and the city of Chicago agreed the health metrics show that it is not the right time to welcome fans back to Soldier Field. The health and safety of the city’s residents and fans of the Bears will always take priority. The team and city will continue to monitor the environment and believe there can be a sound plan in place to bring fans back to Soldier Field once it is deemed safe and appropriate. Until then, Bears home games will not include in-person fans.”

[Futureshock]

Robert Alford out for year with torn pectoral muscle

Posted by Charean Williams on August 17, 2020, 7:04 PM EDT

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An MRI did not bring good news for Cardinals cornerback Robert Alford.

Alford will miss the season with a torn pectoral muscle that will require surgery, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports.

It is the second disappointing summer for Alford after signing a three-year, $22.5 million deal with the Cardinals in February 2019. He spent 2019 on injured reserve, too, after breaking his leg last summer.

He had 303 tackles, 10 interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in 88 games for Atlanta, which released him after the 2018 season.

Backups Chris Jones and Kevin Peterson will receive reps opposite Patrick Peterson for the Cardinals with Byron Murphy sticking to slot duties.

[Futureshock]

UNC quickly pivots to online only classes for undergraduates

Posted by Mike Florio on August 17, 2020, 5:44 PM EDT
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Apparently, there can and will be college football without college.

The University of North Carolina, after only one week of classes, has ditched in-person instruction for all undergraduate classes, as of Wednesday.

Via the Daily Tar Heel, the decision flows from the fact that the COVID-19 positivity rate spiked from 2.8 percent last week to 13.6 percent this week. The school as of Monday had 177 students in isolation and 349 students in quarantine.

North Carolina plays football in the ACC, and the ACC fully intends to play this fall. The fact that football will proceed at a time when classes won’t further exposes the reality that big-time college football is far less aimed at providing students with a more well-rounded campus existence than it is at generating as much money as possible.

Then again we already knew that, didn’t we?

[Futureshock]

CFL rookie of the year Nate Holley hoping for NFL workouts

Posted by Michael David Smith on August 17, 2020, 5:04 PM EDT

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With the Canadian Football League season canceled, a lot of football players are looking for work. Most of those players are not good enough to make it in the NFL. But a few may get the opportunity.

One such player is Nate Holley, a linebacker who won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie award last year with the Calgary Stampeders. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Holley is expected to have NFL workouts.

It’s unclear whether CFL players’ contracts put any restrictions on their ability to leave for the NFL.

Holley played college football at Kent State and spent time in offseasons with the Vikings and Rams but has never made an NFL regular season roster. He’ll hope his strong season in Canada convinces some team to give him a shot.

[Futureshock]

Browns evaluate Nick Chubb for concussion

Posted by Mike Florio on August 17, 2020, 4:36 PM EDT

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The return of padded practices means the return of injuries that happen during padded practices.

The Browns have announced that running back Nick Chubb is being evaluated for a concussion.

With so much focus on pandemic protocols, the concussion protocol has become almost an afterthought. But brain healthy continues to be a major concern for the NFL, and if Chubb is concussed, he’ll have to be properly cleared to return to practice.

Chubb finished second last year in rushing in the NFL, with 1,494 yards. He’s expected to have another big year; however, the presence of Kareem Hunt for a full season could cut down on Chubb’s total touches.

Chubb averaged 5.0 yards per carry in 2019, making the most out of every opportunity he had.

[Futureshock]

Bengals waive Rodney Anderson with failed physical

Posted by Charean Williams on August 17, 2020, 4:23 PM EDT

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The Bengals announced they waived halfback Rodney Anderson with a failed physical designation Monday.

Anderson, a second-year player, entered the NFL as a sixth-round draft pick of the Bengals in 2019.

He played during the exhibition season last year but did not see action during the regular season after a knee injury in the preseason finale.

Anderson had 1,566 yards from scrimmage at Oklahoma, with 21 touchdowns, with 1,442 of those yards and 18 of those touchdowns coming during his sophomore season of 2018.

The Bengals also announced defensive end Bryce Sterk has passed COVID-19 testing protocols. Sterk now counts against the team’s 80-player roster limit.

[Futureshock]

Lol. The Patriot way, except MP hasn't ran a lap in decades....



Joe Judge makes Giants’ players, coaches run laps for mistakes

Posted by Michael David Smith on August 17, 2020, 3:08 PM EDT

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As he presides over his first training camp, Joe Judge is proving himself to be an old-school football coach.

Judge, the Giants’ first-year head coach, was making both players and coaches run laps when mistakes were made on the practice field when the Giants had their first padded practice today.

“There are consequences for making mistakes,” Judge said, via Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News.

Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard said he hasn’t had to run laps for making a mistake since “probably middle school,” but the lesson is clear: Don’t make mistakes.

“It’s going to take everybody buying in if we’re going to be the team we want to be,” Shepard said.

Judge has promised to take a disciplined approach to coaching the Giants, and he’s showing that off today.

[Futureshock]

Cardinals expect DeAndre Hopkins will return from hamstring injury soon

Posted by Josh Alper on August 17, 2020, 3:07 PM EDT

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Everyone in Arizona is waiting to see how wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins looks in the Cardinals Offense, but patience is the order of the day for their biggest acquisition of the offseason.

Hopkins is dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him out of practice for the second straight day on Monday. There were concerns about soft tissue injuries for players returning to action after being off the field this offseason, but the Cardinals don’t sound overly concerned.

Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury said, via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com, that the wideout is “getting better each day” and is expected back on the field with the rest of the team soon.

Assuming that’s the case, the Cardinals will be able to begin working in earnest toward making a run at having three 1,000-yard wideouts in the same lineup this season.

[Forsh]

Rashan Gary working to be “impact player” this season

Posted by Charean Williams on August 17, 2020, 8:25 PM EDT

Getty Images

Rashan Gary. Remember him?

The Packers made Gary the 12th overall choice in 2019. He made no starts in his rookie season, played 244 defensive snaps (24 percent) and had 21 tackles and two sacks.

Gary, 22, returned a few pounds heavier, at 276, and much hungrier after a disappointing start to his career.

“That’s not even a question,” Gary said when asked how hungry he is, via Mike Spofford of the team website. “Everything I did in the offseason to this point is about being the best me, coming back and being an impact player. You know that’s what I want to be, and that’s what I will be. So that’s just been my whole mindset, and I’m just down and grinding.”

Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said this offseason he has high expectations for Gary. Gary is taking a “large share” of first-team snaps, according to Spofford.

After watching Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith last season, Gary is ready to contribute this season.

“My mindset is to be great,” Gary said. “I’ve got a lot of examples in front of me last year watching ‘P,’ watching ‘Z’ and I know what it takes.

“My body is right, mind right, and just ready to go.”

Seems like a guy who has it all ... except maybe IT

[The King]

Ya. Something has always been off with him. Peoples-Jones is another one. Both guys have loads of talent, but I’m guessing something is missing regarding mental approach.