NFL News

[ghandi]

Guess it could just be a lack of instincts with Gary

I remember watching Michigan games and hardly ever noticing him......You see his physical attributes and think he has to be good, but it sure doesn't seem to show up on the field....Like you guys said "tarzan and Jane".

[Futureshock]

Not a scientist or safety professional in the bunch. What could possibly go wrong?



Eight-person committee will advise the Commissioner on COVID-19 issues

Posted by Mike Florio on August 20, 2020, 10:35 PM EDT

Getty Images

The names are now known as to the members of the outside advisory committee that will assist Commissioner Roger Goodell on issues relating to COVID-19, throughout the 2020 season.

They are, per a source with knowledge of the situation, former NFL cornerback Champ Bailey, former NFL receiver Isaac Bruce, former NFL G.M. Charley Casserly, former NFL head coach Tom Coughlin, former NFL head coach Marvin Lewis, former NFL safety Troy Polamalu, former NFL G.M. Bill Polian, and former NFL G.M. Rick Smith.

The league decided to compile a committee of former executives, coaches, and players not currently connected to the NFL, in order to avoid the obvious conflicts of interest that would apply to members of the Competition Committee, who currently are affiliated with teams that will be affected, directly or indirectly, by the decisions the Commissioner may have to make.

As explained during a Wednesday conference call with reporters by NFL executive V.P. of football operations Troy Vincent, the committee will advise Goodell on matters relating to whether games should proceed, and also on issues regarding playoff seeding if some teams play fewer than 16 games in 2020, due to the pandemic.

It’s unclear whether objective standards will apply to the decisions that will be made, or whether each case will be assessed based on its own facts and circumstances. Regardless, it will be critical to create a sense of consistency and fairness for all teams in all situations.

Finally, the fact that the eight members of the committee aren’t currently connected to teams doesn’t mean they won’t have their own biases and prejudices, based on past affiliations and/or current friends or enemies. Here’s hoping that, in the end, decisions will be made regardless of who or which team they may help or hurt and that in every instance the best interests of the game will drive the outcome.

[Forsh]

Not a scientist or safety professional in the bunch. What could possibly go wrong?

That's just the football thinking bunch. Obviously they'll get advice and input from medical/science experts

[Futureshock]

That's just the football thinking bunch. Obviously they'll get advice and input from medical/science experts

Is that the assumption?


So the people giving their advice we're assuming they'll get advice from health professionals. Sure. What could possibly go wrong?

[Futureshock]

Retests of 77 positives from NJ lab all come back negative

Posted by Josh Alper on August 24, 2020, 8:04 AM EDT

Getty Images

Eleven NFL teams received news of positive COVID-19 tests this weekend, but those positives were not what they seemed to be.

All 77 samples that produced positive tests were from one BioReference laboratory in New Jersey while the other four labs used by the league had no positive tests. That led the NFL to investigate the results to see if they were false positives and that process included retests of those samples.

PFT has learned, via a league source, that all 77 restests came back with negative results. That should allow the players and team employees to return to their facilities.

The question of how to avoid such irregularities in testing in the future remains in the air, especially as they could impact teams on gameday. It is one the league will likely continue to look into and address further in order to avoid a repeat of a chaotic Sunday morning around the league.

[Futureshock]

Back on the field, John Ross knows he has something to prove

Posted by Darin Gantt on August 24, 2020, 5:43 AM EDT

Getty Images

When John Ross was away from Bengals camp caring for his son and his son’s mother after they contracted COVID-19, he said he’d head out at 2 a.m. to get a run in at a nearby park.

Staying in shape while being away from training camp was important, because the former first-round pick knows what’s on the line this year.

The Bengals didn’t pick up the fifth-year option on his contract this offseason, making this a contract year for the wideout who is still known for his speed and potential more than his production.

“I need to play all 16 games,” Ross said, via Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “I need to stay healthy and I need to make plays in every single game. It’s on me to do that. The thing about it, I wouldn’t have picked up my option, either. It guarantees injury if you get hurt. I’ve been injured every single year.

“That’s not a bad decision by them. And now it’s on me to show them why I should be here longer. That’s how I look at it.”

Injuries have limited to 24 games in three seasons, though his 18.1 yards per catch in the eight games he played last year shows why the Bengals want to give him chances.

Prior to leaving camp, he was working with the starters, and new quarterback Joe Burrow gives the offense the chance to do more this year.

“Mentally, I feel like it’s the most confident I’ve ever been. I think that was kind of the biggest thing with me. When I was thinking about all the things that really didn’t have anything to do with what I should be doing for four quarters,” Ross said. “I think that’s the biggest thing for me is just having my confidence back and understanding how talented I actually am and believing in myself.”

Now, he just has to stay on the field, so he can prove it.

[Futureshock]

Pretty cool...



Raiders wear jerseys of franchise greats in practice

Posted by Darin Gantt on August 25, 2020, 6:30 AM EDT

Getty Images

The Raiders are serious about preserving their traditions. Other than leaving Oakland, of course.

And in Monday’s practice, that meant it looked like they had a roster full of Hall-of-Famers and all-time greats.

Via the team’s official website, Raiders coach Jon Gruden had players wear jerseys of past franchise greats during practice Monday, with rookie wideout Henry Ruggs III wearing Cliff Branch’s number 21, and running back Josh Jacobs putting on the 34 of Bo Jackson.

“He got Bo Jackson — Bo knows — he was pretty pumped about that,” fullback Alec Ingold said after practice. “I think he snuck his jersey shirt out, I don’t think he gave that one back. I had Mark Van Eeghen, another legendary fullback from the 70s, really cool to get to exemplify what Raiders have been in the past and hopefully bring some of that legendary success into the future.”

Tight end Foster Moreau was wearing a Raymond Chester jersey Monday, and the history wasn’t lost on him.

“I got pretty lucky, coaches told us yesterday we were going to break out some old players,” Moreau said. “[Gruden] loves to bring back old players, loves to keep the Raider tradition going. Today I got Raymond Chester, which was pretty cool. We also had Darren [Waller] in a Todd Christensen and we had [Jason Witten] in the No. 87 ‘Ghost’ [Dave Casper]. It was pretty cool to don those guys jerseys, it was a nice change of pace for us, and we had a pretty good day out there.”

While honoring the past is a fun way to mix it up, creating some new memories would be nice, as they move into yet another new city.

[Futureshock]

Reports: Grant Delpit tears Achilles, ending his season

Posted by Charean Williams on August 24, 2020, 9:53 PM EDT

USA TODAY Sports

The news didn’t appear positive when Grant Delpit was carted off the field Monday. It didn’t get any better when the Browns announced the safety was undergoing tests on his Achilles.

Then, came word from Adam Schefter of ESPN that the Browns fear the second-round choice has torn his Achilles.

An Achilles tendon tear is a simple diagnosis on the field, with an MRI confirming.

Sure enough, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports an MRI confirmed the injury.

The Browns were planning for Delpit to start at free safety, and now, his rookie season is over before he plays a game.

Delpit’s injury happened on a non-contact play before the start of team drills.

[Forsh]

Shame about Delpit. Might never be the same

[The King]

Ya, that’s awful. At least he got hurt under contract, though. If this happened in college, he’s fucked.

[Futureshock]

Hopefully he can get back to normal next year.

[Forsh]

Ya, that’s awful. At least he got hurt under contract, though. If this happened in college, he’s fucked.

Well, hopefully he signed already. I assume he did if he was in practice

[Forsh]

Delpit was right at the top of my wish list for the Lions in the 2nd round

[Cody_Russell]

Mikel Leshoure situation 2.0.
Rookie 2nd Rd pick looks promising during training camp. Torn achillies injury.
Hope Delpit comes back, but it's a tough injury. Was looking forward to seeing what Greedy Williams + Grant Delpit would do for the Browns secondary in 2020.

Not my first choice... honestly would have been fine if the Lions took Delpit at #35. BPA argument, as was the case with taking Swift.

[Futureshock]

Sports medicine has changed since Leshoure. I think he'll be alright in a year.